Police in central Alberta said two men had to be rushed to hospital with a range of injuries Sunday, after the long-boards they were riding hit gravel on the side of the road, causing them to crash.
Sylvan Lake RCMP said the incident happened after 2:15 p.m. Sunday, when three young men were long-boarding northbound on Old Boomer Road near Fern Glade Crescent – the three were reportedly going down a hill at high speeds.
Two of the men hit loose gravel along the side of the road, lost control, and wiped out on the asphalt.
Witnesses, including the off-duty Deputy Chief of Sylvan Lake’s Fire Department immediately provided first aid before emergency crews arrived.
Both 22-year-old men were injured; one suffered a serious head injury and was air-lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary – he remained in the Intensive Care Unit Monday.
The second man suffered less serious injuries; he was taken by ground ambulance to the Red Deer Hospital, and was released a short time later.
Police said none of the three individuals were wearing safety equipment at the time – RCMP are investigating, but no charges had been laid.
