Mishap leaves youth in critical condition

Photo by Chuck Tobin

An 18-year-old Whitehorse youth remains in critical condition in Vancouver following a motorcycle accident Monday afternoon on 12th Avenue in Porter Creek.

Whitehorse RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said today eyewitness evidence indicates the youth was attempting to pass a vehicle on the inside between the vehicle and the cement curb at around 12:45 when he hit the curb near Fir Street, while heading toward the Alaska Highway.

The teenaged boy, who was alone, flew from the bike and skidded some 80 metres, police said.

Ambulance and fire department staff rushed to the scene.

A police news release says the teenager was taken to Whitehorse General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later medevaced in critical condition to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Whitehorse hospital staff confirmed this morning.

The name of the youth has not been released.

The teen, said Rogers, was seen doing wheelies on 12th prior to hitting the curb.

He said evidence suggests speed was a factor, but just how fast the youth was travelling won’t be known until the traffic analyst completes his report.

The police are seeking assistance to locate the driver of the vehicle who apparently didn’t notice what was going on behind him, Rogers said.

He said the motorcycle was coming up on the inside and may not have been visible to the driver of the vehicle, which did not stop. The bike had reached the back corner of the vehicle when it hit the curb, the officer explained.

Eyewitnesses, said Rogers, are positive there was no contact between the motorcycle and the vehicle, and there was no evidence at the scene indicating any contact.

The sergeant said he doesn’t believe a motorist operating a vehicle in a responsible, legal fashion would not have stopped had he or she known what had just happened.

“We are confident that this driver was not involved in any collision with the bike and may not have been aware of the bike attempting to pass, but we are hoping that person may recognize the incident and come forward to speak to police.”

Rogers said witnesses were unable to describe the vehicle in question because they were focused on the travel of the motorcycle.

Police, he said, are interested in hearing from any motorists who were travelling down 12th at around 12:45 p.m. Monday.

They’re also interest in speaking to anyone who may have seen the youth driving his bright orange bike prior to the mishap, he said.

The teenage was wearing his helmet at the time though it came off during the course of events, said the sergeant.

He said it is not unusual for a helmet that is properly fastened to come off in a collision, depending on the circumstances.