Unsecured hay bale causes serious motorcycle crash in southern Alberta: RCMP

A Calgary woman was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after a serious motorcycle crash south of the city.

It happened on Highway 23 near Blackie, Alta. at around 4:45 pm.

RCMP said a hay bale “fell or blew off” a trailer being pulled by a westbound pickup truck, landing near 272 Street East.

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A 41-year-old woman travelling behind the truck on a motorcycle then collided with the bale. She was taken to hospital in Calgary by STARS Air Ambulance. The extent of her injuries is unknown.

“Speed and alcohol are not deemed to be factors in the collision,” RCMP said in a Monday news release. “The cause of the collision was an unsecured load of hay bales.”

The 60-year-old driver of the pickup truck was charged with failing to properly secure the hay bales and operating a motor vehicle without a valid licence. He was uninjured.

The hamlet of Blackie is located about 70 kilometres southeast of Calgary.