A 41-year-old cyclist died Sunday after she was struck by a vehicle during a bike race in Central Saanich.
The Greater Victoria woman was riding in the Tripleshot CrossFondo, a mostly off-road cycling event on trails and private property through Greater Victoria.
The collision happened just after 10 a.m. in the 6400-block of Central Saanich Road at the intersection with Tanner Road, said Sgt. Paul Brailey of Central Saanich police.
She was taken to hospital, where she died of her injuries.
Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors, Brailey said.
The cyclist was heading north on Central Saanich Road when she was struck in the intersection by a driver heading south, he said.
The intersection is tricky and has caused problems before, Brailey said.
Heading south on Central Saanich Road, the street splits in two. Straight ahead is a continuation of Central Saanich Road, which loses its centre middle line and eventually ends in Bear Hill Regional Park, and a slight curve to the left takes drivers to Tanner Road.
The natural flow of traffic is to curve left to Tanner Road, which requires no turn signal and has no stop sign, Brailey said.
The driver was heading to Tanner Road when they struck the cyclist in the intersection, he said.
The woman was cycling north through the intersection on Central Saanich Road and had a stop sign, he said.
ICBC statistics show a fatal crash at the intersection in June 2019 and three other crashes that caused property damage.
A volunteer road marshal was directing traffic at the intersection, and there may have been a misunderstanding about right of way and the control of the intersection, Brailey said. Police were not involved in traffic control.
The driver of the pickup remained at the scene and co-operated with police, Brailey said.
Police have spoken to several witnesses and are asking anyone who was driving in the area at the time and has dash cam video to contact Central Saanich police at 250-652-4441.
Tripleshot organizers said they are heartbroken by the woman’s death and the news “has devastated the cycling community.” They thanked people at the scene who helped until paramedics arrived.
The woman had ridden Tripleshot’s CrossFondo and other similar events many times.
Organizers have been in touch with the woman’s family, which has asked for privacy as they grieve.
