Charges are pending against a 49-year-old Quebec man after he crossed in front of a motorcyclist at Parkdale and Scott streets Thursday claiming the life of senior Ottawa political advisor, police said.

The victim is Mario Lague, 52, communications director for federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. Lague was married with two children.

"He was a really great father. He was a great man," said Lague's daughter,

Arianne, through her tears on Thursday morning."He enjoyed life. We miss him already."

Rescue crews were called to the Westboro intersection just before 7 a.m. and arrived to find a motorcycle and SUV had collided. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Charges had not be laid by Ottawa police as of 12 p.m.

"I heard it happen and I thought jeez," said a witness who gave his name only as Steve who lives about 10 metres from the intersection. "It didn't sound like a normal accident. It wasn't a normal crunch. It was a really serious thud."

When he came outside it looked as though a blue motorcycle had T-boned an SUV from Quebec.

Police said Lague was heading eastbound on Scott when and SUV attempted to turn left onto Parkdale heading westbound on Scott.

The SUV turned right into Lague said police.

Steve said he saw the motorcyclist on the pavement in a large pool of blood.

His bike saddlebags had ripped off, the bike lay fender down on the road and paramedics were around the man.

Before emergency crews arrived Lague laid facedown in the street with a group of about 10 onlookers, including a construction worker who walked up to Lague.

Police were first on scene and immediately went to Lague's side and began stopping traffic.

Firefighters and paramedics arrived who began CPR.

"They were pumping on his chest," said Steve. "They were trying to resuscitate him."They stopped and then they put him on top of a gurney."

Paramedics wheeled him to an ambulance.

"The doors were open and they weren't doing anything. Pretty sure he was dead. I knew right and there."

The driver of the SUV had a neck brace and was treated by paramedics.

"I really feel for that poor man," said Steve, watching as investigators worked at the scene.

"And the poor (man)," adds the man beside him, referring to the driver of the SUV.

"(He's) is going to live, though. He didn't," says Steve.

Lague was also a public servant under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin and Ambassador to Costa Rica said Ignatieff in a statement.

“While we will miss Mario’s extensive talents, we will miss most of all his warmth, his humour, and his passion for Canada that inspired us all," he said.

“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, loved ones and the many, many friends and colleagues that knew him.”

Road closures are in effect while collision investigators work at the scene.

Both Scott and Parkdale are shut leading to the intersection, and commuters should avoid the area if possible.

Kenneth.jackson@sunmedia.ca