An 80-year-old cyclist has died following a tragic collision on the Trans Canada Highway in View Royal over the weekend.
Just after 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th, emergency crews responded to reports of a serious crash in the northbound lanes of the highway, just past the Six Mile Road on-ramp.
According to West Shore RCMP, the man had been riding his bike southbound in the northbound lanes on the right-hand shoulder when he collided head-on with a grey 2013 Toyota Sienna van.
BC Emergency Health Services, police, and fire crews from both View Royal and Langford attended the scene and performed life-saving measures, but the cyclist was pronounced dead on site.
The van was being driven by a 51-year-old man with a 15-year-old passenger. Both were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash prompted a full closure of the northbound lanes for several hours as West Shore RCMP’s Traffic Unit and Vancouver Island’s Collision Reconstructionist examined the scene.
The highway reopened at approximately 9:40 p.m. that night.
While the investigation is ongoing, RCMP have ruled out drugs and alcohol as contributing factors.
“West Shore RCMP extends its condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist. We thank the public for their patience as emergency crews attended the scene as traffic was affected for a number of hours,” said Cpl. Nancy Saggar, media reletions of the West Shore RCMP.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dashcam footage from the area between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
