A North Island College student has died nearly three weeks after being struck by a cyclist while walking home from campus in Courtenay.
Max Poley, 24, was finishing an evening shift at the student union cafeteria, NISU Eats, on September 16 when the collision occurred. He was walking along Ryan Road, a route connecting the Comox Valley Airport to Highway 19A that passes the college and lacks street lights.
The incident happened just before 9 p.m. near the bottom of the hill close to Back Road. Poley was immediately taken to the intensive care unit at Victoria General Hospital and later moved to the trauma department.
Initially, Poley was awake and joking, providing relief to his family and friends. However, he later suffered a brain bleed that was deemed inoperable, leading to his death.
Paramedics reportedly told hospital staff that the cyclist was riding on the sidewalk, though police have not confirmed this detail. Const. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP said the incident is under investigation, and the cyclist has been identified.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones impacted by this tragic collision,” Terragni said.
Carissa Wilson, executive director of the North Island Students’ Union and a friend of Poley’s family, said proper street lighting and clearly marked bike lanes could have helped prevent the accident.
Poley was studying office administration and taking university credit courses with plans to transfer to a larger school in B.C. He had a strong attention to detail, organizing his home library by category and color.
At NISU Eats, he was known for creating playlists, hand-writing menus, and preparing flavoured coffee syrups from home for students. He had a natural ability to connect with people while making drinks, leaving a lasting impression on staff and students alike.
“You could tell when Max was on duty,” Wilson said. “Max was a lovely young man.”
The Comox Valley community continues to mourn the loss of a student described as hardworking, thoughtful, and uplifting, while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic collision.
