A Central Saanich Road resident is concerned about what she says was a lack of communication over the route of a cycling event Sunday in which a woman was killed in a collision with a pickup truck.

Wendy Beairsto, who lives on Central Saanich Road just south of where the collision occurred, said she was angry and upset over what she believed to be a preventable loss of life.

Lindsay Burgess, 41, died after a collision with a pickup truck at the intersection of Central Saanich and Tanner roads while participating in the ninth annual Tripleshot CrossFondo, a fundraiser for the Tripleshot Cycling Club’s youth training program .

Police said a preliminary investigation indicates there may have been a misunderstanding regarding control of the intersection.

The driver of the vehicle had the right of way at the intersection, which was manned by a volunteer course marshal, who can direct runners but is not a licensed flagger capable of controlling traffic, police said. Speed ​​and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the collision, they said.

The investigation continues and officers continue to interview additional witnesses as they come forward, the sergeant said. Paul Brailey said Friday, adding that a traffic analyst report would likely take a few months.

Beairsto said bike races are common on Central Saanich Road and she usually plans to take time off or spend the day at home to avoid driving on a race course. She visited the CrossFondo website the day before the event to check the route and was frustrated to find it wasn’t available, she said.

The event’s website states that no map of the course is published in advance, calling it “uncharted.” Part of the route passed through private property and the website asked riders not to cycle on those properties before or after the event.

Beairsto and her husband were heading to the ferry Sunday during the event and they didn’t really know what was going on.

“There was no event signage, like ‘event in progress,'” she said, adding that they didn’t see any signs in advance alerting them to the race.

She found driving at intersections, including Central Saanich and Tanner roads, to be unorganized. “There needed to be adequate traffic control,” she said.

Beairsto wants to know what has been communicated to volunteer marshals and runners regarding their responsibilities.

“Something has to change so this doesn’t happen again.” And to identify the root cause of what happened,” she said.

Event organizers were required to submit a traffic management plan prepared by a qualified traffic control professional as well as a communications plan for public notice on the road leading to the District of Central Saanich in order to obtain a permit .

Beairsto wants to know if the plans were followed and, if so, why they were deemed adequate.

The district will not release traffic management or public communications plans because they are not district documents, a spokesperson said.

Race organizers released a brief statement Monday saying they were heartbroken by Burgess’ death, which “devastated the cycling community.” They have not responded to interview requests since.

Burgess’ husband, Chad Grice, said organizers are committed to doing everything they can to ensure future events are safe.

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