Okanagan Sun running back Janson Towers is dead after a motorcycle crash on the way home from a team practice.
Kelowna RCMP say preliminary reports indicate Tower's speeding motorcycle could not stop soon enough to avoid a turning semi-trailer Friday.
RCMP Const. Bob Charron says the Edmonton native's motorcycle struck the end of the trailer.
Charron says a first aid attendant and off-duty ambulance worker tried to keep the 21-year-old alive but he died en route to hospital.
Highway 97 was closed for nearly three hours so police and an accident reconstruction specialist could examine the scene.
Towers' death occurred only four days after the five-foot-10, 205-pound Edmonton native was presented with the Marty Cullen trophy as the most inspirational player during the team's awards dinner.
Four years ago, on Sept. 1, 2004, players watched as all-star running back Jeff Halvorson collapsed during practice.
Medical examiners concluded the death of the 21-year-old, just six weeks after marrying his high school sweetheart, was the result of heart failure brought on by a virus.
