'Tragic' situation, advocates say as motorcycle driver dies in weekend crash

The death of a motorcycle driver in Windsor over the weekend is "tragic," one safe driving advocate says, after police charged the driver of a pickup truck with impaired driving related to the crash.

Chaouki Hamka, community leader for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Windsor, said the fatal collision has left the community shaken.

"It sounds like a broken record now, we always reiterate safety," Hamka told CBC News on Monday.

She says that MADD's message comes back to having a safe and sober ride home: "Planning ahead can save lives."

MADD is a registered Canadian volunteer-driven charity that that seeks to stop drinking and driving.

The collision happened around 11 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Lauzon Parkway and Lauzon Line.

According to police, a pickup truck tried to turn eastbound when it struck a motorcycle that was headed northbound on Lauzon Parkway.

By the time officers arrived on the scene, police say, two people were found on the road with injuries both were riding on the motorcycle.

'A very, very tragic situation'

The driver, a 39-year-old man, later died in hospital. The 35-year-old female passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say the driver of the pickup truck faileda breathalyzer test. A 41-year-old man faces several charges.

"This is a very, very tragic situation that occurred," Hamka said.

Biker appeals to others 'slow down"

Patrick Aligard, who is very active in the local biker community, said he was "upset" when he heard about the death of another biker over the weekend.

Aligard said in his experience with motorcycles, drivers are sometimes "texting, on the phone, not paying attention, running red lights [or] turning in front of you."

Aligard, who's been a biker for 55 years, said he gets "shaken up a bit" whenever hears of the death of another biker.

"A lot of people feel bad about [this accident]," he said, noting that many felt "even worse" when they learned police had charged a person with driving impaired.

Meanwhile, Aligard is reminding bikers they should slow downwhen they see a vehicle coming and be prepared to "move over a bit."

"The bikers and the cars, they got to work together."

Windsor police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact them.