Police are recommending charges against an impaired driver after his pickup truck was involved in a Langford crash that sent a cyclist to the hospital.
It was one of two incidents where cyclists were hit by vehicles on the West Shore over a six-day stretch.
West Shore RCMP responded to the Langford Parkway Canadian Tire around 2:40 p.m. on Friday, April 19 after a collision in the parking lot between a Dodge Ram truck and a cyclist, who was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the driver showed signs of impairment and a breathe sample determined he had over the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
The 34-year-old man had his truck impounded, was given a driving prohibition and faces recommended impaired driving charges.
In the second incident, which took place on Thursday, April 25, a Hyundai Accent struck a cyclist at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue.
The crash occurred shortly after 11 p.m. and police said the low-light conditions contributed to the driver not seeing the cyclist, who was biking through the intersection and suffered minor injuries after being struck by the vehicle as it was turning left.
The driver wasn’t ticketed, and got off with a verbal warning. Police added the driver was sober. Black Press Media has asked West Shore RCMP why officers decided the driver didn’t need to be ticketed.
“If you have been consuming alcohol plan for a safe ride home. In general, we would like to remind drivers to please be mindful of cyclist who are sharing the roadway,” West Shore RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar said in a news release. “Always check to make sure the bike lane is clear before making turns or going through an intersection.”
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