A female cyclist who was attempting to cross the Pat Bay Highway on her bike is lucky to have sustained only minor injuries after being hit by a car last Thursday morning.
The collision occurred just after 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 22 in the southbound lanes near the McKenzie Avenue exit, near Pacific Christian School.
Saanich police Sgt. Steve Eassie said officers to believe that the 24-year-old cyclist was crossing the highway when she was hit.
"It would appear that the 24-year-old cyclist was attempting to cross over the two southbound lanes to access the grass median," he said. The driver, a 23-year-old man, said he did not see her until she was hit.
The southbound lanes on the Pat Bay were closed for approximately three hours. The highway reopened around 9:30 a.m. after Saanich's collision reconstruction team completed its investigation.
Eassie said the cyclist was originally rushed to hospital in critical condition, but her condition improved quickly. She was released from hospital before noon with only minor injuries, including soft tissue bruising and scrapes.
Eassie said investigators considered charging the cyclist, but "opted not to add insult to injury."
kslavin@saanichnews.com