Charge approved in 2020 crash that killed cyclist on cross-Canada journey
The cyclist struck and killed by a pickup truck in Maple Ridge, B.C. on July 20, 2020 has been identified by friends as 24-year-old Dafne Toumbanakis, of Montreal.
Vancouver -
More than a year after cyclist Dafne Toumbanakis was struck and killed at the outset of a ride across Canada, a driver has been criminally charged.
The 24-year-old victim was on the Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge, B.C., when she was struck by a pickup truck on the afternoon of July 20, 2020.
On Wednesday, following a 16-month investigation, Ridge Meadows RCMP confirmed one count of dangerous driving causing death has been approved against Mission resident Jason Davis.
"While the police consider the charge approval a positive outcome as far as the police investigation goes, we never lose sight of the fact that tragically someone lost their life in this incident," Const. Julie Klaussner said in a news release.
Authorities previously said the driver remained at the scene and was co-operative with police.
Friends told CTV News that Toumbanakis, who lived in Montreal, was no stranger to long-distance cycling, having previously taken several international biking trips, including a solo ride from Turkey to Poland.
"She was a person that really enjoyed life, enjoyed open space, trekking, biking," her friend Sylvain Karpinski said in an interview after her death. "She was a super easygoing girl and she was a sweetheart."
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