Northbound Colorado Highway 93 turned into a standstill north of Golden on Tuesday after a two-vehicle crash left a motorcyclist dead and shut the road down for hours.
The rider, a 55-year-old man, was taken from the scene to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Jefferson County deputies closed the northbound stretch and warned drivers to brace for major delays while investigators and cleanup crews worked the scene.
According to KDVR, the collision involved a motorcycle and a pickup. The Colorado State Patrol said troopers responded to reports of the two-vehicle crash on Highway 93 west of Arvada and opened a full investigation into what led up to the impact.
Officials And Traffic Impacts
CBS Colorado reported that the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced a full closure of northbound Highway 93 between 64th Avenue and 82nd Avenue, just north of Golden. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes as the shutdown stretched on.
The Sheriff's Office warned the closure could last several hours, and the Colorado Department of Transportation told motorists to expect delays in the area while the investigation and roadway cleanup continued. Anyone trying to thread the needle through that corridor on a tight schedule found out quickly that was not happening.
Why This Stretch Can Shut Down
The Highway 93 corridor along the foothills is no stranger to sudden closures. It has a track record of disruptions tied to crashes, rockfall and bad weather, according to Jefferson County. With tricky terrain and drainage issues in the mix, a single serious wreck can quickly snarl traffic as crews work to clear debris and make the road safe again.
Troopers with the Colorado State Patrol are continuing to investigate Tuesday's crash. Anyone with video or information related to the collision is asked to contact the Colorado State Patrol or the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Officials have not yet released the rider's name, pending notification of family members, and they are asking drivers to steer clear of the area until emergency personnel fully wrap up their on-scene work.
