Cyclist in hospital, four suspects sought in hit, run

Reconstructing the scene of a hit-and-run collision that hospitalized a cyclist June 30 is a key aspect of the city police probe into the incident, a spokesman says.

The Winnipeg Police Service was called to the reported collision between a cyclist and a vehicle at Isabel Street and Notre Dame Avenue at about 8 p.m. Friday. Patrol officers found the 63-year-old man lying unconscious in the road.

He remains in hospital, in critical but stable condition.

The vehicle involved left the scene, but was ditched a block west on the 100 block of Juno Street, police said Sunday.

Community support officers found the vehicle, a “heavily” damaged grey 2007 Pontiac G6, with no one inside. Witnesses told police four males ran from the sedan.

WPS spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said Monday he could not reveal whether the vehicle had been reported or suspected stolen prior to the collision.

Chancy added the four suspects who fled the damaged sedan have not yet been located. He said much of the investigation will be focused on rebuilding the collision.

“There’s a lot of work insofar as the reconstruction of the accident itself — the rest is just based on sourcing out information, whether it be from witnesses, the involved party and, of course, video surveillance that is available to investigators,” Chancy said.

“That’s why we usually ask for public assistance in order to gain that information.”

Jeremy Epp, owner of Independent Jewellers, said Monday he knew little of what occurred — noting his business at the northwest corner of Isabel Street and Notre Dame Avenue was closed at the time of the collision and over the weekend.

However, “It’s a high-traffic corner,” said Epp.

Traffic investigators learned the cyclist had crossed the intersection against a red light when he was hit by the vehicle, throwing him onto the road, police said Sunday.

Police are still seeking witnesses who saw the collision or spotted the vehicle around the time of the collision, as well as any surveillance footage, including from homes and dash cameras, captured around that time.

Traffic investigators ask anyone with tips to call the division at 204-986-7085 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204786-8477.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca