Cyclist killed in fiery crash involving SUV

Police rescue driver, find victim in nearby woods

A cyclist is dead and a 52- year- old woman is facing possible drunk driving charges after an early morning fiery crash in Maple Ridge.

RCMP say shortly before 3 a. m. Thursday, a patrol officer witnessed a white Kia Sportage SUV speeding eastbound along Dewdney Trunk Road. The officer was just turning around to chase the car when the driver of the SUV lost control and crashed.

The vehicle rolled over and burst into flames.

The officer put the flames out with a fire extinguisher.

Emergency crews arrived and dragged the woman, a Maple Ridge resident, from the burning car. She remained in hospital with non- life threatening injuries early Thursday evening.

Crews then found a dead male cyclist near the crash site. RCMP believe the SUV hit the cyclist throwing the man into some woods near the roadside. He was located by a police dog. “If [ the officer] hadn’t of been there so quickly, when no one else had been around, the consequences of this crash could have been very different for the driver,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.

The investigation is in its early stages and no charges have yet been laid. However, Dunlop said police are pursuing possible charges of impaired driving causing death.

The road was closed to traffic for much of the morning Thursday.