Motorcyclist killed trying to pass a semi

KAMLOOPS – A man riding a motorcycle on the Yellowhead Highway near Barriere Saturday morning died while trying to pass a tractor-trailer.

The crash happened at about 7:30 a.m. about 10 km south of Barriere.

RCMP say the southbound motorcyclist, who had a learner's licence, hit a northbound vehicle on the two-lane highway.

The rider was killed, while the people in the vehicle were taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Sgt. Edward Preto is asking the driver of the tractor-trailer to call RCMP, not because the bike hit the semi, but because the driver is a witness to the crash.

Highway 5 was closed for over five hours and was reopened to single lane, alternating traffic in the afternoon. For the latest information on the highway’s status go to the Drive B.C. website.

No names have been released by the police.

Witnesses to the crash are asked to call Barriere RCMP at 250-672-9918 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

– This story was updated at 9:44 a.m., Sunday, May 25, 2014 to add more details about the motorcyclist who was killed.