Cyclist struck, then fined

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UPDATED AT 2:30 P.M.

A cyclist was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital Tuesday night after he was struck at Spall Road and Harvey Avenue. And then he was handed a fine.

Const. Jesse O'Donaghey says police were called to the scene of a cyclist struck just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

“We received a report that a red vehicle, a 2013 Mazda, struck a cyclist on Harvey at Spall,” says O'Donaghey.

“We attended the scene and found the driver of the vehicle, who is co-operating with the investigation. The cyclist was transported to Kelowna General Hospital for treatment, complaining of pain in his left side and hip area.”

Police obtained statements from witnesses, the Kelowna driver in his forties and the cyclist, also in his forties.

“We ended up issuing a fine to the cyclist for failing to ride his bicycle on the right,” says O'Donaghey.

O'Donaghey says the cyclist was actually heading westbound, against the flow of traffic, he was not wearing a helmet and there were no reflectors or lights on the bicycle. 

"The vehicle struck the rear tire of the bike as they were crossing the intersection, the driver was making a left-hand turn from the highway onto Spall when the cyclist came out of nowhere," adds O'Donaghey. 

Police say the cyclist was to blame, while the driver was not issued any fine.