A Williams Lake man was trapped beneath his burning motorcycle after colliding with a pickup truck in Savona.

The collision, which occurred at Savona Access Road and Highway 1 Friday night, was one of two crashes that required patient transport by air ambulance that day.

Witnesses watched as a 1998 GMC pickup pulled up to the intersection at about 7 p.m. RCMP Cpl. O'Flynn said in a press release that the vehicle came to a halt at a stop sign before proceeding.

He said the truck drove into the path of an oncoming 2005 Yamaha motorcycle. The rider braked hard, causing the motorcycle to skid. It hit the truck squarely in the driver's door and burst into flames.

"The motorcycle came to a rest on its side with the rider underneath the flames," said O'Flynn. "The pickup continued straight through the intersection coming to rest on a sand bank."

Savona Fire Department put out the fire and tended to the 24-year-old rider's injuries until paramedics arrived. He was flown by air ambulance to Royal Inland Hospital with second- and third-degree burns to his body.

He was listed in critical condition on Friday night. An update was not provided by late Sunday afternoon.

O'Flynn said the driver of the pickup, 24, of Savona, was unharmed.

The intersection was closed for several hours, with traffic detoured through Savona, while police investigated the scene. An investigation is ongoing, but charges are being considered against the driver of the pickup, said O'Flynn.

"RCMP remind motorists to be vigilant for motorcycles on the roads as warm weather brings more riders into the area," he said.

An air ambulance was called into action earlier that day when a Nissan pickup and Pontiac Montana minivan collided at Monte Lake.

Fire and Rescue assistant chief Dennis Fayers said crews were dispatched at about 5 p.m. and firefighters had to pry apart the wreckage to get at the driver of the Nissan, who was flown to RIH for treatment.

The driver of the Pontiac was taken to hospital by ambulance.