Former Roughrider Ben Fairbrother dead after motorcycle crash in Edmonton

A former Saskatchewan Roughrider has died in a motorcycle crash in Edmonton.

A former Saskatchewan Roughrider has died in a motorcycle crash in Edmonton.

In a post to X on Monday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced the passing of Ben Fairbrother – who was killed on Friday in a motorcycle crash in Alberta’s capital. He was 51.

The Edmonton Police Service reported a fatal crash involving an SUV and a motorcycle on 118 Avenue and 139 Street at around 4:35 p.m. on Sept. 13.

The service said the 51-year-old motorcyclist was transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The crash is being investigated by the Major Collision Investigations Section.

Fairbrother was drafted second overall in the 1997 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft as an offensive lineman and served with the Riders over four seasons until 2000 before joining the B.C. Lions as a free agent – playing with them until 2003.

As a Roughrider, Fairbrother played in 37 games, starting in 20.