One cyclist dead, two seriously injured in Richmond crash

Police are investigating a vehicle collision this morning in Richmond that claimed the life of one cyclist and seriously injured two others.

According to RCMP, the incident occurred just after 10 am on the 23000 block of River Road when a 2013 Lexus traveling westbound crashed into a group of six male cyclists who were pedalling eastbound.

A 33-year-old Vancouver resident died at the scene, and two other cyclists also from Vancouver were rushed to hospital for treatment. Police say a 39-year-old cyclist is in critical condition while a 46-year-old cyclist is in serious condition. The other three cyclists incurred minor injuries.

The 19-year-old male driver from Burnaby was not injured, remained at the scene, and is cooperating with police.

Corporal Dennis Hwang with the Richmond RCMP described the scene of the collision as “very difficult for officers to investigate”.

“To put it into some perspective, the carbon fiber frame and forks on one of the bikes was snapped in multiple places like twigs or matchsticks,” he said.

Multiple units and agencies including the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit, Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), BC Coroner’s Service, and Richmond RCMP Victim Service’s Unit are involved in the investigation.

Police have not indicated whether excessive speed or alcohol were factors in the collision.

“It is too early to tell what contributed to this terrible crash. The cyclists did appear to be wearing their helmets. This is the second fatality in Richmond within the last week.”

On October 30, a 25-year-old female from Coquitlam died in the passenger seat of a car involved in a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of No. 4 Road and Westminster Highway.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to contact the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit at 604-278-1212 or Crime Stoppers’ anonymous hotline at 1-800-222-8477.