1 cyclist dead, 2 injured in crash involving vehicle during Okanagan Granfondo

A cyclist has died and two others are seriously injured following a collision near Penticton, B.C., during the Okanagan Granfondo cycling event, say police. 

Penticton RCMP say the crash happened Sunday on White Lake Road near St. Andrew's Drive — a route that's part of the popular mass cycling event, which draws thousands of riders to the city each year.

Police say the incident involved a motor vehicle and multiple cyclists.

One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

WATCH | 1 rider dead, 2 injured in Okanagan cycling event: 

Celebration of cycling in B.C’s Okanagan turns tragic with fatality, injuries

14 hours ago

Duration 1:50

A celebration of cycling in B.C.’s Southern Interior turned tragic on the weekend. One person was killed and another two were injured during the 155-kilometre Okanagan Granfondo, which departed from Skaha Lake Park in Penticton. As CBC’s Chad Pawson reports, RCMP and race organizers are trying to figure out what caused the tragedy.

Participant Jonathan Balogh said the good vibes at the race turned sombre when riders realized the severity of the incident.

"They did have volunteers there, slowing us all down, helping us to walk past the accident scene. And they had everything covered up," he said. "So it was at that point that we started to realize this was more than just a simple fall from a cyclist, that this was something serious. There was a heavily cracked windshield."

White Lake Road was closed for several hours from approximately noon to 8 p.m. as investigators analyzed the crash, and a traffic detour was put in place. DriveBC confirmed Sunday evening that the road had reopened.

Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he knew something was wrong when he saw multiple ambulances going by. 

"You could just tell by the pace of those ambulances that it was serious," he told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition on Monday morning. 

The mayor issued a statement Sunday offering condolences to all those affected by the crash.

"In times like these, words often fall short. It's a time to come together with compassion and kindness — and to show support for those in need."

The City of Penticton had issued a traffic advisory ahead of Sunday's event, warning drivers to expect delays throughout the region and to watch for cyclists along highway routes.

In a statement Sunday afternoon, organizers of the Okanagan Granfondo said they were "heartbroken" by the fatal incident.

"Our prayers are with all those impacted today," the statement read. "We are fully co-operating with the authorities at this time."

2nd cyclist death in less than a week

The tragedy at the Penticton Granfondo comes less than a week after Shane Kelly, one of two cyclists hit while training in Prince George for the Cops for Cancer charity ride, died as a result of his injuries. 

One person has since been arrested, after the two cyclists were struck in a residential neighbourhood on the morning of July 7. 

Bloomfield said cyclist safety comes down to "respect."

"The roads out there, they're paid for by everybody," he said. "They're used by everybody in different forms of transportation, you know, whether it be bikes or cars or motorcycles or agricultural vehicles or commercial vehicles and private vehicles and horses and pedestrians."

He said the Granfondo is well-managed, and professional traffic control is in place. 

"This is the first time that something like this has happened in Penticton with Granfondo. It's been here for over 10 years, so that's a bit of a testament to the general way that safety is taken by the organizers."

Bloomfield said he will wait for an official report from police on the crash to understand what more could have been done to prevent it. 

The RCMP had not provided an update on the investigation as of Monday afternoon.