Police call for witnesses to B.C. highway crash that killed cyclists, passenger

PEMBERTON, B.C. – RCMP are appealing to the occupants of a dark or black SUV who may have witnessed an erratic driver on Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., before three people were killed in a crash.

Two cyclists and a passenger in a vehicle that struck them died around noon on May 31.

Cpl. Ronda Rempel says police would like any witnesses who may have photos or video to come forward.

She says the area was busy with out-of-town travellers and police believe someone has more information that could help investigators.

Fifty-three-year-old Kelly Blunden and 50-year-old Ross Chafe were riding with a group when they were hit, and 52-year-old Paul Pierre Jr., the vehicle’s only passenger, was also killed.

RCMP say the driver was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Vancouver and appears to have been impaired, based on observations from witnesses and officers at the scene.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the crash happened on the Sea to Sky Highway.