A cyclist is dead and a local woman is facing possible charges of impaired driving causing death after a crash on Dewdney Trunk Road early this morning.

Just before 3 a.m. a Mountie spotted a white Kia Sportage speeding eastbound on Dewdney Trunk Road near 232nd Street, explained Ridge Meadows RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.

The officer turned around with the intent of stopping the SUV. However, by the time the officer reached the SUV – about 10 blocks east – the vehicle had crashed and was ablaze.

Helping the 52-year-old Maple Ridge woman free of her vehicle, the Mountie then began dousing the flames with his fire extinguisher.

Meanwhile, another officer is credited with noticing a bike on the side of the road and suspecting there might be more people involved.

A police dog was called in to scout the area in the 24300 block of Dewdney, and a body was discovered in a wooded area near the shoulder of the road.

According to Dunlop, the SUV “struck a cyclist” who was travelling east along Dewdney.

“Unfortunately the cyclist did not survive his injuries,” she added.

As of Thursday afternoon, the identity of the cyclist was not known. Dunlop described him as a Caucasian male who was believed to be between 20 and 40 years of age.

Police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, and an investigation is under way.

Ridge Meadows RCMP are asking for anyone who may know the identity of the cyclist, or anyone who may have witnessed the driving habits of a white Kia Sportage to call Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251.

In the meantime, local Insp. David Fluegel commented on the early morning events.

“This is a very unfortunate and sad case. A general duty officer observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed and once he got to a point where he felt the driver of the vehicle would be able to see him activate his emergency lights, he did so to signal the driver to stop. The officer did not engage in a pursuit,” he emphasized.

“Evidence suggests that she lost control of her vehicle and crashed just off the travelled portion of the roadway. The quick actions of our officer contributed to limiting the tragedy in this case, as the vehicle caught fire,” the inspector added.

“Putting out that fire was extremely important. It was a short time later, with other police resources, and Maple Ridge fire department personnel, arriving at the scene that we tragically located the deceased cyclist.”

- Stay tuned for more updates in the online and print editions of The TIMES.