The motorcyclist involved in a two vehicle crash on Westside Road Monday morning is clinging to life at Kelowna General Hospital.

Bruce Pearce, a resident of Summerland and in his fifties, was on his way to work at Lake Okanagan Resort, when he collided with a car.

RCMP at the scene say Pearce was attempting to pass the car at the time of the crash.

Co-worker Natalie Saunders disputes that claim.

"Bruce was trying to avoid hitting the vehicle that turned in front of him," says Saunders who adds that Pearce's injuries are severe.

"Bruce's condition is very grave. He's in a coma. He has a fractured skull, he has bleeding on the brain, a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a dislocated elbow."

RCMP say the driver of the car has been charged with making an illegal u-turn.

Saunders says Pearce's family, most of whom are from out of town, have been called to his side.

She says that prior to the crash, she did talk to Pearce about wearing proper protection.

"I have always maintained it would be better to have better head protection and wear full leathers while riding. That's just my opinion."

Pearce was wearing a skull cap at the time of the accident.

"He preferred to ride that way and that was the helmet he chose. That helmet, to this point, has saved his life because the point of impact was on the helmet. The impact point was on the temple and there is definitely adequate protection at that point."

Meantime, Saunders, a Westside Road resident, agrees with neighbours that it's a dangerous place to ride a motorcycle.

"We have a nasty road that has a lot of gravel, potholes and bad shoulders. It's a terrible road."

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