Richmond RCMP have arrested a 26-year-old driver and impounded his car after a cyclist was found dead by the side of the road.
In the early hours of Monday, police were called to the 4400 block of No. 5 Road after residents reported finding a cyclist struck.
The 64-year-old Richmond man was found on the sidewalk by passing motorists — north of Highway 91, near McNeely Drive — but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Police then discovered a license plate at the scene and were able to track down the alleged driver and vehicle involved.
The 26-year-old driver, a Richmond resident, was taken into custody near his home and his vehicle has been seized for investigation.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the victim had not been identified on the request of his family and no charges have been laid as the incident is still being investigated, according to Richmond RCMP.
One of the people who came to the stricken cyclist’s aid, Andrew Bailey, told the Province newspaper he did what he could, getting someone to call 911 and stopping other motorists for assistance.
But Bailey would prefer that any praise goes to the passing motorist who administered CPR until paramedics arrived.
Bailey, who was driving to his nearby home from an all-night drug store, stopped when he saw debris like a bike wheel and helmet in the road and the man lying on the sidewalk, not moving.
He didn't have a phone so he banged on the door of a nearby residence to get them to call 911, then went back to the road to try flag down help because he didn't have any medical training.
A motorist stopped and also called 911 on his phone.
"I held his cellphone [connected to emergency services] while he administered CPR for seven to eight minutes before the paramedics arrived," said Bailey, 33. "It was really quite amazing.
"The thing that blows my mind is I'm sure he was as convinced as I was that this man was dead already."
But that didn't stop their efforts to help the cylist, who was wearing a reflective vest.
"I would really love to publicly applaud the gentleman that admininisted CPR all that time until the paramedics arrived," said Bailey.
He never got the Good Samaritan's name, although the memory of it all was still vivid Tuesday.
"It was definitely an amazing experience to see a complete stranger like that do whatever he could to try save this person's life," said Bailey.
"It was an intense morning."
Bailey used to work in a medical clinic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
"I've seen some pretty nasty things but nothing like a brutal instant death in a car accident. I'm still kind of a little taken aback by it. I don't think I've really processed it yet."
The 26-year-old driver was released from police custody Monday afternoon but has not yet been charged.
"It will take us weeks to get the report from the collision analyst, so we have him leaving the scene, it's just the rest of the charges we won't know," said Richmond RCMP’s Cpl. Stephanie Ashton.
There’s no indication, as of yet, that alcohol, drugs or speed were factors in the collision.
Meanwhile, Derek Williams, Richmond co-chair of local cycling group HUB — which promotes and argues for better cycling facilities — said he usually avoids that particular stretch of No. 5 Road at all costs due to the “crazy” speed of the cars. And, although not knowing the full facts of Monday’s tragedy, Williams — who sits on the City of Richmond’s Active Transportation advisory committee — intends to now push the need for a bike lane on or near that section of No. 5 Road.
“I’m very aware of that section of 5 road. It’s a disgusting road to cycle on and I only use it if completely necessary,” said Williams, who doesn’t own a car and cycles everywhere.
“We have some decent cycling lanes on the other side of the city, but there is nothing out there, even close by, for me to use.”
Williams said speeding in general is “totally out of hand” in Richmond, but it’s especially “ridiculous” in the area where the cyclist was killed.
“Residents in the area complain to the police all the time, and they come out and ticket drivers, but it doesn’t do much,” he added. “The bigger and wider the road is, the faster they get. If the cyclist doesn’t hold a perfect line, they are in trouble.”
Anyone who has information can call Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 or if they wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
— With a file from the Province
