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Fatal collision in Victoria’s Chinatown rules cyclist’s death accidental

Eileen Glynda Evans, 73, collided with a five-tonne truck in March 2016
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The death of a cyclist killed in a March 2016 crash in Chinatown has been ruled accidental, according to a recently released report from the B.C. Coroner’s Service.

Eileen Glynda Evans, 73, was cycling southbound on Government Street during the morning rush hour on March 29, 2016 just before 8:30 a.m. when she collided with a five-tonne truck making a right-hand turn from Government Street onto Fisgard.

Evans – wearing a helmet and a jacket with reflective strips – was reported to have suffered multiple traumatic injuries as a result of a motor vehicle incident. The rear wheels of the vehicle passed over her after she was thrown from her bicycle, which was deemed to have “sustained catastrophic damage”.

RELATED: Cyclist struck and killed in Chinatown

“After a review of all evidence related to this motor vehicle incident it remains unclear as to why the collision occurred,” the report read.

Despite the area being clearly marked with signage alerting drivers to “the possible presence of cyclists in an area where cyclists might be unexpected” the coroner, Carolyn Maxwell, determined a potential blind spot on the vehicle that Evans may have entered.

At the time of the accident, a witness who was in a nearby bakery told the Victoria News, “We need more room for bikes. Drivers are too aggressive on the roads. They are in too much of a hurry.”

kristyn.anthony@vicnews.com