Man charged with 1st-degree murder in cyclist's hit-and-run death

A 45-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the hit-and-run death last week of a cyclist on Vancouver Island.

According to court documents, Steven Henry Squires has been charged with murder and failing to stop at the scene of an accident in relation to the death of Rodney Kelly, a cyclist who was struck on the Comox Valley Parkway last Thursday.

Comox Valley RCMPsaid they responded to a 911 call from a passerby at 10:56 p.m. PT. According to police, first responders attended the scene and provided emergency first aid, but Kelly died from his injuries in hospital.

Squires made an initial court appearance on Sunday evening and is scheduled for a bail hearing on Feb. 29.

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit took conduct of the investigation from Comox Valley RCMP and it said it located the suspect vehicle involved in the collision a few days ago.

Cpl.Alex Berube, the spokesperson for the unit, would not comment on the circumstances that led to the first-degree murder charge against Squires, who remains in custody pending the bail hearing.