The son of a 59-year-old cyclist who was shot while participating in a cycling event early Sunday morning says their family is shocked about what happened.
Craig Premack of Burnaby was hit in the forearm and suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries when he was shot on Highway 1 just south of Spences Bridge while participating in the Cache Creek 600.
His son Paul Premack says he got home from a friend’s house at about 3 in the morning on Sunday and received a call from the RCMP, who said his dad was involved in a cycling accident.
“My first thought was that he was in some sort of accident,” says Premack. “I began calling him and texting him. At about 5 a.m., he told me – he was hurt. I asked him – what is going on. And he said, believe it or not, I was shot.”
Premack says he did not have a chance to speak with his dad about what exactly happened, but his father believes a man hiding in the bushes near the bridge used a gun to shoot him.
He believes multiple bullets were fired.
“To be honest, at first I thought it was some kind of a joke. I was waiting for my dad to say, just kidding… although I know it is not like him to joke about something like that,” says Premack.
He says his dad is an avid cyclist, who trains and competes around the world.
Craig Premack completed a 400 km race a couple of weeks ago and used to race in Europe and Hawaii.
He is currently in stable condition and is expected to undergo surgery today.
“We are happy he is alive,” says Paul Premack. “It is a blessing that he was hit in the arm, and nowhere near his head, his spine or his heart. We are happy that he is in stable condition, but we are shocked and worried.”
Watch: Cyclist shot during marathon ride
Police say the incident does not appear to be targeted and that the suspect fled in a pickup truck. There is no description available at this time.
The investigation continues and police are looking to speak to anyone who has any information about what happened, the suspect or the pickup truck.
The Cache Creek 600 is an annual 600 km cycling event that starts in Maple Ridge on Saturday morning, goes to Cache Creek and ends in Maple Ridge on Sunday.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Lytton RCMP at 250-455-2225 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
~With files from Amy Judd
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