Two cyclists die after car strikes group in Canberra's north
Quick Look
- A car struck five cyclists on Gungahlin Drive in Palmerston, Canberra, on Thursday morning last week, killing a 32-year-old woman at the scene and later a 39-year-old man in hospital.
- No charges have been laid against the 40-year-old female driver of a Hyundai Accent, and police are appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The crash occurred on Gungahlin Drive in Palmerston, Canberra, involving a group of five cyclists from the ACT triathlon community. A car struck the group, resulting in two fatalities and multiple injuries. Emergency services and members of the public, including an off-duty nurse and police officer, provided assistance before official responders arrived.
In short:
Last week, five cyclists riding on Thursday morning were struck by a car in Canberra's north.
The crash is now confirmed to have killed two riders in their 30s, with a woman dying at the scene and a man in hospital.
What's next?
No charges have yet been laid.
Two lives have now been claimed by a crash in Canberra's north last week, after a 39-year-old man died in hospital yesterday evening.
On Thursday morning last week, at about 6:20am, ACT Policing said a car "ploughed" into a group of five cyclists on Gungahlin Drive in Palmerston, between Wells Station Drive and Kosciusko Avenue.
A 32-year-old female rider died at the scene, while a 39-year-old man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Members of the public, including an off-duty nurse and police officer, assisted the injured cyclists ahead of emergency services arriving.
This morning, ACT police confirmed the second cyclist had died in hospital, bringing the number of deaths on ACT roads this year to 11.
The cyclists were part of the ACT's triathlon community, with the group last week describing the crash as "shocking".
"This incident is a reminder that the roads are a shared space and all we ever want, whether you're a driver or a cyclist, is to get home safe," ACT Triathlon president Lara Lever said.
Following the crash, Detective Inspector Mark Steel said the driver of the vehicle, a 40-year-old woman, was assisting police with enquiries.
No charges have yet been laid.
Detective Inspector Steel said police were appealing to "anybody with information or dash cam footage of the cyclists on Gungahlin Drive, or a Hyundai Accent, light blue in colour, with ACT registration YND94Q".
In a Facebook post today, ACT Triathlon acknowledged the impact the two deaths had had on the community.
"This loss has been deeply felt across the ACT triathlon and wider cycling communities," the group said.
"In the weeks ahead, we will work together to support one another and provide opportunities for our community to come together.
" Our strength as a community has always been in the way we show up for one another. Now is one of those times. "
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Police will lay charges against the driver following the completion of the investigation.
Likely · Within weeks
ACT Triathlon will organize community support events for members affected by the crash.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle?
- Will charges be laid against the driver, and if so, what charges?
- Are there any safety concerns or infrastructure issues on Gungahlin Drive that contributed to the crash?
- What support is being provided to the families of the victims?