Motorcyclist dies at scene of collision

A motorcyclist is dead after a collision with a truck in southeast Calgary on Sunday.

The motorcyclist was driving through the intersection of 36th Street and 19th Avenue S.E. just before 3 p.m. MT when the crash occurred.

Witness Eric Harker said he could not believe what he had seen.

"I saw smoke and everything coming from [it] — because [the motorcyclist] tried to hit the brakes — and I heard skidding and a big crash and I saw the guy go flying," said Harker.

Harker said he saw a man and woman in the truck. 

"His wife was crying and he was shocked," he said. "He got out of the truck, he was on the phone right away to the police."

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time.

This was the fourth traffic fatality in the city in 24 hours.

"It's difficult for our traffic members. The same team was called out and had to work each one of these fatals, so it's difficult for them," said Calgary police duty inspector Chris Butler.

"It's difficult for the families that have to be notified that their loved ones are killed and aren't coming home. So there's a huge trail of destruction that gets left behind when any of these fatal events occurs."