An unfortunate alignment of circumstances resulted in the tragic death of a Kelowna woman after her bicycle struck a car door. With permission from the family, police are releasing her name.
Patricia Keenan, 38, was cycling behind a friend as they headed westbound on
Bernard Avenue past Gordon Drive on July 14 at 5:38 p.m. The driver of a car, that was parked on Bernard, opened the door of his vehicle to get out just as Kennan was riding by.
Although she was wearing a bicycle helmet, the force of the collision with the car door and the roadway caused serious head injury and she was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital for treatment.
Her injuries proved unsurvivable and she succumbed to them two days later.
Police continue to investigate and have this message for motorists: "when you park parallel to a roadway, please take the time to check your side view mirror for approaching vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists before you exit your vehicle."