The patrol officer who drove the car that struck and killed Quebec City cyclist Guy Blouin on Sept. 3 has been promoted to the rank of investigator in Quebec City's police department.

He got the promotion despite an ongoing investigation by the Sûreté du Québec into the incident that resulted in the death of the 48-year-old cyclist.

A spokesman for the Quebec City police, François Moisan, told Radio-Canada this promotion is a "temporary assignment."

"He passed all the stages of the selection process before the incident and was on an eligibility list," said Moisan. "He is currently on a temporary assignment to investigations."

"It is not a permanent appointment."

The officer is a general duty officer and was not re-assigned to administrative duties following Blouin's death.

Faulty brakes

According to a report from Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil, the patrol vehicle that hit Guy Blouin had a problem with its braking system. The report says a reconstruction of the accident by investigators two days after it occurred confirmed that.

SQ investigators are still trying to determine what role the braking problems played in the incident.

When the police car struck the cyclist, it was reversing at high speed on Saint-François Street East.

The SQ would not confirm Le Soleil's report.