Man loses part of hand in crash on Highway 417

An OPP cruiser shown on October 17, 2014.

A man lost part of his hand after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a van on Highway 417 Monday night.

The crash happened around 8:15 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of higway 417, just east of Panmure Rd.

Paramedics say the 43-year-old man sufferd "traumatic amputation" of part of his hand, as well as fractures to his forearm. An off-duty paramedic stoppedto help until an advanced care paramedic crew arrived on scene.

That off-duty paramedic says four Algonquin College paramedic students working with Spectrum Patient Transfer Service were first on scene. He says they set up a safety zone, moved the injured man to their vehicle and controlled the bleeding.

The man was taken to the trauma centre where he's in serious but stable condition.

Highway 417 was closed for hours as police investigated the cause of the crash.