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Cyclist Christopher Beaulieu killed while training south of Edmonton

Cyclist Christopher Beaulieu killed while training south of Edmonton

A cyclist training for an upcoming bicycle tour was killed Monday, Feb. 23 when he was struck on a rural road near Leduc.

Christopher Beaulieu, 21, was riding on Range Road 252 near Highway 19 at around 6:30 p.m. when he was hit from behind by a small pickup truck.

Beaulieu died at the scene.

The cause of the crash remains unclear though the lack of any street lights likely contributed, said RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks.

Beaulieu was an experienced cyclist who always rode with bike lights, Michael Kalmanovitch with the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society said in a news release.

Beaulieu had left work in south Edmonton around 5:30 p.m. and was riding his fat bike on a 30-40 kilometre training ride for an upcoming tour this summer, Kalmanovitch said.

The temperature was about 7 degrees Celsius and conditions were clear, he said.

The society is preparing to erect a ghost bike at the scene Friday at noon at the request of the family.

Police have not laid charges against the driver of the pickup truck.