Man dead after motorcycle collides with van carrying prisoners near Whitewood, Sask.

A man is dead after his motorcycle crashed with a van carrying prisoners near Whitewood, Sask., shortly before noon on Wednesday, RCMP say.

The crash happened about170 kilometres east of Regina, near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 9.

The van was heading east on the Trans-Canada Highway and the motorcycle was crossing the intersection on Highway 9 when it was hit by the van,RCMP said Thursday.

The man driving the motorcycle was 62 years old, RCMP said, butthey will not be releasing his name.

The man was taken hospital in Broadview, Sask., following the crash, where he later died.

Intersection host to numerous crashes: mayor

Whitewood Mayor Doug Armstrong said the corner where the collision occurred has a bad reputation in the community.

"I couldn't put a number on it but there's been a number of crashes and near misses at this corner," he said.

Armstrong said in 2018, Whitewood's city council wrote the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, asking them to reduce the speed limit at the intersection to 80 km/h. He said when they responded, the ministry said it would reduce the limit to 90 km/h.

"We'd like to see it reduced 80," Armstrongsaid."I mean, if they can reduce it to 90, why can't they reduce it to 80?"

Armstrong said councillors in Whitewood want a representative from the Ministry of Highways to visit the community, so they can show them just how dangerous the intersection is. He said the community and the ministry have a good working relationship and he's confident the provincial governmentwill accept their invitation.

When asked about his reaction to the most recent collision, he said it's proof that something needs to be done to improve safety at the intersection.

"It's a very serious intersection and has to be addressed," he said.

CorrectionalServiceCanada (CSC)saidthere were no injuries to the 10 prisoners andfive staff members in the van,and all of the prisonerswere quickly accounted for. Theywere being driven between federal prisons.

CSC said that the inmates were taken to a secure facility until their transfers could be completed.

"All inmates are currently back in a federal institution," the service said in a news release sent out on Thursday afternoon.

Kellydae Dash, the acting regional communications manager with CSC, said "at no time was there a risk to public safety."

She said prisoners are typically kept in separate areas in corrections vehicles and there is also extrasecurity equipment onboard including things like body belts, leg irons and handcuffs.

CSC extendedits condolences to the victim and his family.

"This is just an absolute tragedy," Dash said. "We're definitely thinking of everyone involved right now."

The highway near the crash site was closed for a brief period on Wednesday, after which traffic was reduced to one lane for much of the day.

A traffic analyst was on site, and emergency personnel were also there.

Police say they don't expect to lay charges in the case.