The Yukon Coroner’s Service is investigating two deaths from separate single-vehicle motorcycle accidents.

Last Thursday morning, Dawson City RCMP reported a motorcycle-related fatality to the coroner’s service that had occurred at kilometre 456 of the Dempster Highway, the service said Tuesday afternoon.

A 66-year-old man from Columbus, Georgia, had been travelling north alone on a 2006 BMW when it appeared that he lost control of his machine.

The death was declared at the scene, and his body was transported to Whitehorse.

It has been determined that the man, whose name was not released, had left Georgia on May 15. He had been travelling through the Yukon alone en route to Inuvik, N.W.T.

Last Friday, Whitehorse General Hospital reported the death of a motorcyclist who had been transferred to the emergency ward.

Thomas Errol Bolton, 62, from Coolidge, Georgia, had been travelling with two others, all on separate motorcycles.

Bolton had left Georgia on May 26, had trucked motorcycles to Montana, and had begun his road trip through Alberta and into the Yukon.

Alongside his friends, they had been planning a tour of the Yukon, and had intended to head to Palmer, Alaska.

They left Johnson’s Crossing last Friday morning, stopped briefly in Whitehorse, then continued north toward Dawson on the North Klondike Highway.

“Bolton was riding behind his friends and appeared to have caught loose gravel near Fox Lake and lost control of his vehicle,” the coroner’s service said.

“He was being transported to Whitehorse General Hospital by Yukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and, sadly, succumbed to his injuries en route.”

Both motorcyclists who died had been carrying a substantial amount of gear on their vehicles.

Although they were both from Georgia, they were not known to each other nor otherwise connected.

The coroner’s service continues to investigate both fatalities.

The service said it appreciates the assistance of the Dawson and Whitehorse RCMP detachments, the Yukon RCMP traffic analyst team, Yukon EMS, Whitehorse General Hospital, and many others who assisted at the scenes of both fatalities.

“The Yukon Coroner’s Service also wants to express deep thanks to the people of Whitehorse and Fox Lake who extended their care and kindness to Mr. Bolton’s travelling companions at the time of this sudden loss of their friend,” the service said.

“We want to remind all people, Yukoners and travellers alike, to take extreme caution when driving on Yukon roads and highways. It is not about how good of a driver you are, as many factors can contribute to serious or fatal crashes in a split second.

“We urge all people travelling throughout the territory to be aware of your surroundings year-round, drive attentively, and always think safety first.”

The service said it “extends our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of both individuals who tragically lost their lives.”