A 59-year-old North Vancouver motorcyclist was rushed to hospital with serious head and leg injuries Tuesday night after a crash on the Lions Gate Bridge around 8 p.m.
The motorcyclist had been heading north on the bridge towards the North Shore, riding a Harley Davidson, and had tried to overtake another vehicle by pulling into a south-bound lane when he collided with a Honda Civic heading south, said police.
The motorcyclist was listed in critical but stable condition following emergency surgery Tuesday night.
At the time of the accident there was one northbound lane and two-south bound lanes.
According to witnesses, the motorcyclist was seen passing vehicles in the oncoming traffic lane at about the midspan of the bridge, said Const. Kevin Goodmurphy, spokesman for West Vancouver Police Department.
A husband and wife from Vancouver, both in their 40s, who were travelling south in the Honda struck by the motorcycle, were also taken to hospital. The husband suffered a possible foot fracture while the wife was uninjured, said police.
A third car, a black Nissan Pathfinder, was also damaged in the accident, although there were no injuries to the occupants of that vehicle.
Traffic on the bridge was shut down in both directions for about five hours while both West Vancouver police and the Vancouver Police Department’s collision investigation unit were on scene.
Police are still looking for witnesses.
“This is a very serious collision and we are seeking any information from witnesses who may be able to assist us with this investigation,” said Goodmurphy. Goodmurphy said if anyone has dashcam footage or witnessed the motorcyclist’s driving prior to the crash, police would like to speak with them.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Vancouver Police at 604-925-7300 and reference police file 20-5481. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by clicking here or calling 1-800-222-8477.
