Rafal Sotola, a 46-year-old cherished resident of Burnaby British Columbia, passed away tragically on December 5 2025 while riding his bicycle to work along a familiar route in the city’s North Burnaby neighborhood.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. near the intersection of Lougheed Highway and North Road when Sotola was struck by a vehicle that failed to yield at a crosswalk prompting an immediate response from Burnaby RCMP and BC Emergency Health Services. Paramedics transported him to Burnaby Hospital where despite exhaustive efforts he succumbed to severe injuries underscoring the vulnerabilities of urban cyclists.
The BC Coroners Service confirmed the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries from the collision with the investigation ongoing to determine factors like speed and visibility amid early morning traffic.
Authorities described the event as isolated with the driver cooperating fully and no charges filed as of December 10 2025 while dashcam footage from witnesses aids reconstruction. This marks the third cyclist fatality in Metro Vancouver this year highlighting ongoing calls for enhanced bike lane protections in high volume corridors.
Born in Poland Sotola immigrated to Canada in his early twenties pursuing vocational training in mechanical engineering at BCIT where he graduated with honors in 2005 launching a steady career as a quality control technician at a local manufacturing firm in Burnaby.
His professional life balanced precision work with overtime shifts to support family goals reflecting a disciplined approach honed through self taught skills in CAD software. Colleagues valued his reliability and quiet mentorship often turning to him for troubleshooting complex assembly issues.
Family defined Sotola’s core as a devoted husband to Malgorzata whom he married in 2004 and father to 18 year old daughter Dominika whose university aspirations he championed through weekend study sessions and encouragement.
The couple settled in a cozy townhouse in Brentwood fostering traditions like summer hikes in Burnaby Mountain and Polish Easter feasts that strengthened bonds with extended relatives. His protective role extended to neighborhood barbecues where he shared grilling tips drawing from childhood recipes.
Sotola embraced an active lifestyle rising early for commutes that doubled as fitness routines complemented by weekend soccer games with local leagues and home woodworking projects crafting shelves for Dominika’s room. Hobbies included brewing craft beer shared at family tastings and reading historical novels on Polish heritage during quiet evenings.
In the wake of his passing a GoFundMe campaign launched by close friends has raised funds for Malgorzata and Dominika addressing immediate needs like mortgage support and future education costs with funeral arrangements pending private family services. Burnaby’s cycling community honors Sotola through planned memorial rides ensuring his spirit of resilience and generosity endures in the lives he touched so deeply.