A Year Later Suspect Arrested After Deadly Okanagan Granfondo Crash

A year since a mass-participation cycling event — normally a celebration of endurance, community, and summer — was transformed into a scene of chaos and horror.

Two of Ava's friends from the Vancouver Fire Department, have errected a memorial in near where the accident occured.

And now, twelve months later, the man police believe responsible has been arrested.

Jonathan Crant was taken into custody Monday, charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and two counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm — charges stemming from the catastrophic collision that tore through the 2025 Okanagan Granfondo and left one cyclist dead and two others fighting for their lives.

On July 13, 2025, riders were streaming down White Lake Road near St. Andrew’s Drive, a quiet stretch just south of Penticton. It was supposed to be one of the most scenic parts of the route — rolling hills, shimmering lake, the sound of freewheels clicking in the summer heat.

Instead, it became the site of a nightmare.

Penticton RCMP officers rushed to the scene after reports of a “serious motor vehicle incident.” When they arrived, they found race participants scattered across the road — bicycles snapped in half, helmets cracked, bodies motionless. Witnesses described a moment of pure terror: cyclists screaming for help, others desperately trying to stop the bleeding, and the stunned silence that followed when the scale of the devastation became clear.

For the past year, investigators have been piecing together what happened on that stretch of road. RCMP say they gathered a “substantial body of evidence,” reconstructing the collision frame by frame, interviewing traumatized witnesses, and ultimately forwarding their findings to the BC Prosecution Service. Prosecutors have now approved all recommended charges.

The Okanagan Granfondo never recovered.

Organizers cancelled the event indefinitely, citing skyrocketing traffic-management costs — but everyone knew the truth: the shadow of the 2025 tragedy was too heavy, too dark. The race that once drew thousands of cyclists and pumped millions into local communities would not see a 15th year.

From 2011 to 2025, more than 25,000 riders crossed its start line. It raised money for youth cycling programs, desmoid tumour research, and countless community initiatives. It was a beloved institution.

Now, it is a memory — one forever marked by the horror of that July morning.

Police say the investigation is still ongoing. The families of the victims continue to wait for answers. And the cycling community, once united by the joy of the Granfondo, remains haunted by the day the ride turned deadly.

Ava Choy: Women who died at Okanagan Granfondo

RIP Ava Choy: Women who died at Okanagan Granfondo

Choy, born in Vancouver in 1976, embodied the characteristics of the Fire Dragon in Chinese astrology, symbolizing passion, vitality, ambition, and leadership. Known for her love of physical activity and her commitment to volunteering, she had a deep connection to Hawaii, a place that resonated with her love for beauty and peace.

Coutts emphasized that while Choy died doing something she loved—cycling alongside a community of fellow enthusiasts—her unexpected passing has left her family in a state of shock. "Losing someone so suddenly not only brings emotional pain but financial strain as we navigate this heartbreaking chapter," she explained.

Two of Ava's friends from the Vancouver Fire Department, have errected a memorial near where the accident occured.

Rest in Peace Ava, you will be sadly missed by all your family, friends and the cycling community.