A 73-year-old Calgary man is dead after the car he was travelling in hit a moose on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park, Sunday night (Sept. 23).

The deceased man’s brother – who was driving a 2001 Volvo when it struck a moose about 18 kilometres south of the B.C.-Alberta border around 9:40 p.m. – is in Calgary’s Foothills Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The moose is dead as well, bringing the death toll for moose along that highway over the past decade to 72.

“On behalf of Parks Canada and our staff, I extend my sincerest condolences to the deceased’s family and friends,” said Caroline Marion, acting superintendent of Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay.”

“We sincerely regret the unnatural loss of human and animal life in our national parks and view this collision as a tragedy.”

It was dark at the time of the crash, but Columbia Valley RCMP say the investigation is continuing and it is not yet known if speed was a factor in the accident.

“A collision re-constructionist from Cranbrook attended the scene, assisting the B.C. coroner, but it all looks pretty straightforward,” said Staff Sergeant Marko Shehovac.

“All evidence suggests the 2001 Volvo was eastbound and hit a moose in the eastbound lane.”

The Volvo ended up partially down an embankment and fire crews had to put out a small engine fire.

The deceased man’s brother was initially taken to Banff’s Mineral Springs Hospital, before being transferred to Foothills Hospital. STARS was called in, but stood down.

Banff’s RCMP, fire department and ambulance attended the scene, as did RCMP from Invermere, the B.C. Coroner, RCMP road analyst, Parks Canada’s visitor safety specialists, wildlife experts and law enforcement wardens.

This was the fifth moose killed on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park since Aug. 29.

On top of that, Parks Canada reports there have been 13 other reported strikes in that same time period, but because carcasses aren’t always found, it can’t be said for sure the moose are dead.

Parks Canada say more moose have been killed on Highway 93 South following recent wildfires in Kootenay National Park, particularly the Tokumm-Verendrye fire that burned more than 12 per cent of the park.

Parks Canada’s statistics show an average of seven moose a year have been killed following the fires, compared to an average of three a year over a 24-year period from 1979-2002.

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