POLICE CONFIRM FATAL BRACEBRIDGE ACCIDENT THURSDAY INVOLVED ‘MOTORCYCLE’ AND NOT AN ‘E-BIKE’ AS FALSELY REPORTED AND SPREAD ONLINE BY SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTERS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — An OPP follow-up today to last week’s fatal accident involving two young Bracebridge men — in which one of them died late Thursday night — has police confirming their original report the collision involved a “motorcycle” and an automobile.

Const. Sam Bigley said in an email reply Monday morning that following widespread, false weekend social media postings — by individuals claiming otherwise — that the 23-year-old deceased man, Cody Nelson, did not die as a result of riding an “e-bike.”

“I’m told that it was a sort of an electric vehicle.

“I wouldn’t call it an e-bike, because I don’t believe there were pedals.

“It looked like a motorcycle.”

Thus the initial press release, said the Bracebridge OPP detachment communications officer.

Bigley also added in response to a MuskokaTODAY.com inquiry: “We don’t release the identity of deceased individuals any longer.”

Police had reported last Friday morning that on Thursday, May 21, at 10:45 p.m., officers, EMS and firefighters were dispatched to a serious collision on Ecclestone Drive, near the Kirkhill Drive industrial park, which is across from Fenner Dunlop and next to the rail overpass at Muskoka Beach Road in Bracebridge.

They said it involved a motorcycle and vehicle.

The fatality left two local families reeling, a community waking up in grief and the accused spending a sleepless night in jail before he appeared in bail court just hours later the next morning.

Police said the driver of the motor vehicle, Ethan McKiernan, of Bracebridge, was arrested and charged with (Impaired) Operation Causing Death and Dangerous Operation Causing Death.

And that McKiernan was in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Bracebridge, Friday May 22, 2026, for a bail hearing.

Emergency services had been quickly on scene and the motorcyclist was rushed to nearby South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

However lifesaving medical measures were unsuccessful and the unidentified motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries.

A police investigation continues. They ask that anyone who has information to contact them at 1-888-310-1122 and may reference incident number E260697147.

See Friday’s original May 22 police release story here:

BRACEBRIDGE FAMILIES REELING AFTER MOTORYCLE ACCIDENT IN TOWN LAST NIGHT LEAVES 23-YEAR-OLD DEAD, 25-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED, DANGEROUS DRIIVING CAUSING DEATH https://muskokatoday.com/2026/05/bracebridge-families-reeling-after-motorycle-accident-there-last-night-leaves-23-year-old-dead-25-year-old-charged-with-impaired-dangerous-driiving-causing-death/

Police confirm their original reporting of the accident saying the “electric vehicle” involved had no pedals and as such according to them was not considered an “e-bike,” but a motorcycle.

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