UPDATED: Cyclist critically injured after being hit by van and pinned under vehicle. Tess van Straaten reports.
A mangled bike is strewn across the road ? the front wheel ripped off ? after a devastating crash in Saanich.
“These are significant injuries that the cyclist has received,” says Acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie, Saanich Police spokesman. “He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
A group of cyclists was riding by Francis King Regional Park around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when a one of the cyclists was hit by a Shaw Cable van near the intersection of Munn Road at Prospect Lake Road.
Dealing w a serious MVI at Munn Rd/Prospect Lake Rd in #Saanich. Traffic will be closed for several hours #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/YxyptaML7S
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) May 23, 2017
Part of the bike was pinned under the van and witnesses say the male rider was trapped under the van.
“When police and emergency services arrived we had to extricate the cyclist from underneath the vehicle,” Sgt Alan Gurzinski of Saanich Police traffic services said.
The cause of the crash is now under investigation and the rural road had to be closed down for several hours as crash analysts took measurements and pictures.
“It’s very early in the investigative process,” Leslie said.
“Certainly we’ll be talking to the witnesses. The driver did stay at the scene and was cooperative.”
Neighbours say the area in question is a notorious stretch of road that’s seen more than its fair share of crashes over the years.
A cyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision at Munn Road and Prospect Lake.
“It’s very dangerous and there are a lot of blind corners and a lot of speeding going on,” Laura Fanning said. Fanning came running out to see what happened after she heard a loud bang and a lot of commotion.
“We’ve had issues ourselves crossing the road trying to get to the trails with our horses. We’d really like people to slow down and consider the consequences of what can happen.”
Police don’t yet know who was at fault in this crash and until they do, it’s too early to say if any charges will be laid.
A cyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision at Munn Road and Prospect Lake.
Dealing w a serious MVI at Munn Rd/Prospect Lake Rd in #Saanich. Traffic will be closed for several hours #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/YxyptaML7S
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) May 23, 2017
A cyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision at Munn Road and Prospect Lake.
A cyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision at Munn Road and Prospect Lake.
Alexa Huffman
