Calgary police say speed is believed to be a factor in a deadly motorcycle crash on McKnight Boulevard N.E. on Wednesday. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes approaching Metis Trail just before 8 p.m. “It is believed the driver lost control of the motorcycle and was thrown from it, landing in a median between the Metis Trail off-ramp and McKnight Boulevard N.E.,” police said in a Thursday news release. The 39-year-old motorcyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died. “Impairment is not believed to be a factor in this collision. However, based on evidence collected from the scene, it appears the motorcyclist was travelling in excess of 200 km/h before losing control,” police said. The speed limit in the section of McKnight Boulevard he was travelling is 80 km/h. Online gamer Farooq Ahmad’s Discord manager has confirmed his death leaving the gaming community in mourning. Photos and videos previously posted on the popular YouTuber’s accounts show Ahmad with the same motorcycle that crashed Wednesday night. ‘More like racetrack driving’ Calgary police say Wednesday’s death is Calgary’s 23rd traffic fatality of the year. “There’s no need for this kind of driving within the city at all,” said Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward. “This is more like racetrack driving.” “These roads aren’t racetracks; they are highways where the public are driving on them.” Woodward said at the time of the collision, there was “quite a lot of traffic” on McKnight Boulevard, noting how lucky it was no one else was injured. He says this crash highlights the dangers of excessive speed. “For some reason, it doesn’t get through to people and they think they’re invincible — and I’m of the belief that they think it will never happen to them. “They just feel that the roads are there for them to open up the throttle and go – and last night, unfortunately, this resulted in death.”
