A 20-year-old man has been charged after a canoe came loose from a truck, hitting a motorcycle and sending two riders to hospital.

The crash occurred around 1 p.m. Sunday on Townsend Line at Sexton Drive in Adelaide-Metcalfe Township, closing the road for over six hours.

An investigation found a canoe being carried on a pickup came loose and struck an oncoming motorcycle causing it to lose control.

The motorcycle driver, Rolland Boyd, 49, of London was airlifted to Victoria Hospital with serious injuries while a passenger, 49-year-old Teresa Niskaria, also of London, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Middlesex OPP say 20-year-old Curtis Diemert of North Middlsex has been charged with carrying an insecure load.

The motorcycle was one of about 250 taking part in the Ride for Dad to raise funds for a local cancer program.

With files from The Canadian Press