Police say three people are dead after a driver they believe was impaired struck a group of cyclists on a highway 50 kilometres northeast of Whistler.
The driver was airlifted to hospital in Vancouver, but the condition of the third cyclist is not yet known given the difficulties of getting information from the isolated spot on Hwy 99 north of Mount Currie and 15 kilometres east of the Birkenhead River, Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair said Sunday afternoon.
A witness had to drive to get cell phone service in order to report the crash to Whistler Pemberton RCMP, who got the call at 11:58 a.m., LeClair said.
The Lower Mainland’s collision investigation team and the coroner are on scene and the highway is closed in both directions.
LeClair did not identify the victims, but said RCMP Victim Services has been called in to help the victims’ friends and families through the tragedy.
The crash occurred on a section of the highway that is quite popular with road bikers, LeClair said.
Agencies/Canadajournal