Cyclist in crash by bridge has died

Dunsmuir school devastated by death of librarian

A death of a cyclist who sustained severe injuries in a crash is affecting hundreds of young people in the West Shore, where she was a dedicated teacher and librarian.

Muriel May Crompton, known as May, was 55 when she died Aug. 13, almost two weeks after the crash, which is still under investigation. She was married and has an adult daughter.

“We are devastated,” said Fern Smythe, president of the Parent Advisory Council at Dunsmuir Middle School in Colwood, where Crompton took a passionate interest in her library and the children who used it.

“The whole community is reeling. The shock of it. It’s going to leave a huge hole.”

Crompton was the staff representative on the council and “she did it all,” Smythe said.

Before Dunsmuir, Crompton taught at Journey Middle school in Sooke and Wishart Elementary in Colwood, said superintendent Jim Cambridge.

“I think this is going to be a hard year starting up at Dunsmuir,” he said. “Families here knew her for a long time.”

Cambridge called Crompton a “strong advocate for literacy [and] a very hardworking educator.”

Even during the summers, she could be found organizing the library in anticipation of the coming school year, he said.

Crompton was known for being strong and reliable, “someone you could count on,” Smythe said. She put her heart and soul into her work. She was quiet, but in the know of everything going on at school, including budgetary issues, and while she encouraged students to read books, she was pro-technology in education.

Smythe’s daughter took out more than 300 books from Crompton’s library and loved checking out her choices.

“She was just so knowledgeable and took her commitment to her job so seriously,” Smythe said of the librarian. “She was professional, very friendly, personable and kind.”

Victoria police responded to reports of an injured cyclist at Esquimalt and Harbour roads, near the Johnson Street Bridge, about 6 p.m. on Aug. 1. Crompton was taken to hospital with major injuries.

“This file is still under investigation, so I can’t tell you if we’ve determined anything regarding what occurred,” police spokesman Bowen Osoko said Friday. “Our investigators are still looking into it.”

Police have said no other vehicles were involved in the crash. Witnesses said the cyclist was travelling at a high speed.

Cambridge said he understands there will be a memorial service of kind for Crompton, but “we’re going to the take the lead from the family on that.”