A tragic incident unfolded last night when a male pedestrian, who had eloped from the nearby HCA HealthONE SkyRidge Medical Center, was struck and killed on Interstate 25 near C-470. As per the City of Lone Tree's release, which 9News shared, the man was initially on a mental health hold at the hospital before he fled the premises shortly after 5 p.m.
The situation escalated when the man was spotted on the light rail tracks, prompting officers to alert the Regional Transportation District to halt the trains. "The man then jumped a fence and tried to run across I-25," the release stated, where he subsequently was struck by multiple vehicles. This information was also reported independently by KDVR, which noted the man's endeavor to evade police officers who had located him near the Lincoln Station light rail platform.
Following the collision, law enforcement and emergency personnel, including South Metro Fire Rescue, the Lone Tree police, and the Douglas County Sheriff's deputies, responded to the crisis. Lifesaving efforts were undertaken but proved unsuccessful, as the man later died from his injuries upon being transported back to the hospital. The closure of Interstate 25 caused significant traffic disruptions, which, as the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department reported on their social media and was captured by the DC Sheriff, lasted until the lanes were reopened around 8 p.m.
I25 at MM193 is closed in both directions due to an accident. pic.twitter.com/yxbIyeaMTM
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 15, 2024
