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Drunk driving charges laid in hit-and-run death of Burnaby cyclist Charles Masala

A 24-year-old Surrey man charged in death of 53-year-old cyclist and father of two on Gaglardi Way in June 2019

A 24-year-old Surrey man has been charged in the fatal hit-and-run that killed Burnaby cyclist and father of two Charles Masala on Gaglardi Way in June 2019.

Masala, 53, was killed while riding beside Gaglardi Way at about 1:30 p.m. on June 29. 

Whoever hit him didn’t stay at the scene, but police located a suspect vehicle – a black Jeep Cherokee SUV – on University High Street and Tower Road a short time later, according to an RCMP press release at the time.

The driver was arrested and released, but charges weren’t announced until this week.

On Thursday, Burnaby RCMP announced Surrey resident Sumeet Mangat, 24, had been charged with dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop after an accident resulting in death, impaired driving causing death and driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding 0.08 percent.

“Our Criminal Collision Investigation Team spent countless hours investigating this tragic collision,” Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in a press release. “These investigations are not easy on anyone and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.”

A GoFundMe campaign was launched by friends after Masala’s death to support his wife and two young children.