EDSON, Alta. - RCMP say a cyclist who was killed in a collision in western Alberta was an off-duty officer with the Edson detachment.
Mounties say they responded to a call Wednesday night near Edson where a cyclist had been struck by a vehicle.
They say the cyclist, who has been identified as Const. Austin MacDougall, was pronounced dead at the scene.
"It was approximately 9:00 p.m. on Range Road 181 west of Edson," said Sgt. Barry LaRocque, an RCMP spokesman.
Justin Lyle Jensen, 35, of Yellowhead County has been charged with impaired driving causing death and refusing to comply with the demand of a peace officer.
The town of Edson issued a statement Thursday saying flags at all public facilities will be lowered to half-mast to mark the loss.
"Const. MacDougall was very involved in the community and the town of Edson sends condolences to his family and to the RCMP detachment at this time," the statement read.
"You know in a small town, the RCMP is a part of your community. They come to your events, they show up at things. It kind of hits the community hard," Mayor Greg Pasychny said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"My understanding is that he (MacDougall) was a very happy gentleman. Everybody liked him. He was just one of those guys, you know. This is tragic for something like this to happen."
