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PEMBERTON 鈥� The two men killed by an alleged drunk driver on the Sea-to-Sky Highway this weekend were both fathers and key figures in the Whistler cycling community.
Friends have confirmed that Ross Chafe and Kelly Blunden died Sunday afternoon after a car plowed into a group of cyclists out for a weekend ride on Highway 99 about 60 kilometres northwest of Whistler. A passenger in the vehicle was also killed in the crash.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a shock to the cycling community all over the Sea-to-Sky Highway,鈥� said Gary Baker, vice president of the Whistler Cycling Club.
鈥淵ou can do everything right, but if someone else drinks and drives, it could happen to anybody.鈥�
Chafe had young children and travelled frequently for his work in business development for a flag company. Blunden鈥檚 children were young adults. He worked in IT for the municipality.
鈥淚t is definitely a big blow,鈥� Baker said.
Both men were keen cyclists and very active in the club. Chafe was 鈥渋nstrumental鈥� in securing non-profit status for the group, according to Baker. Blunden maintained the club鈥檚 website and had instituted a beginners鈥� road ride that stressed safety for novice riders.
In lieu of the club鈥檚 usual Tuesday night ride, a grief counsellor will speak to members about their loss.
A third cyclist was riding slightly behind Blunden and Chafe when they were struck, but his condition is unknown. Baker said the three men had just finished a steep 14-kilometre climb and were coasting back down the winding road when the collision happened.
鈥淚 could hardly sleep all night, so I imagine he would be just devastated,鈥� Baker said of the surviving cyclist.
The driver of the car was airlifted to hospital in 91原创 with a police officer at his side.
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