American couple dies after motorcycle crash in Merritt

MERRITT – A Washington state couple has died in a motorcycle crash in Merritt yesterday.

RCMP Sgt. Mike Pears with Central Interior Traffic Services says in a news release emergency crews responded to Highway 8 east of Coldwater Road for a report of a motorcycle and vehicle crash around 2:49 p.m. yesterday, Aug. 27.

Two couples on separate motorcycles were traveling together westbound on Highway 8 when the lead motorcycle for some reason crossed the centre line and collided with an eastbound Toyota RAV 4, Pears says. Evidence at the scene indicates the driver of the Toyota moved to the right in an attempt to avoid the crash.

The couple on the lead motorcycle were pronounced dead at the scene. The second couple was uninjured and was not involved in the crash other as witnesses. Both couples are from Washington state.

A mother and her child in the Toyota were taken to hospital in Merritt and are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

Central Interior Traffic Services investigators from Merritt and a collision re-constructionist from the Southeast District will assist the B.C. Coroners Service to try and determine why the motorcycle collided with the Toyota, Pears says.

RCMP Victim Services from Merritt is anyone directly impacted by the crash.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet talked to the police to call RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services at 250-378-4262.

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