A pre-dawn walk on Interstate 76 turned deadly early Friday when a pedestrian was struck and killed by a trash truck, according to authorities. The crash shut down part of the highway while troopers investigated and cleared debris. Officials have not yet identified the person who was killed or said whether the truck driver could face charges.
According to FOX31 Denver, the Colorado State Patrol responded in the early-morning hours and confirmed the pedestrian died at the scene. Troopers closed at least one stretch of I-76 during the investigation and urged drivers to stay away from the area until lanes could be reopened. The State Patrol is leading the inquiry and has not released additional details about what led up to the collision.
Rising pedestrian toll in Colorado
Friday’s crash comes amid a troubling rise in pedestrian deaths statewide. The Colorado Department of Transportation reports that 127 pedestrians were killed on Colorado roads in 2025 and that fatalities have nearly doubled over the past decade. The agency has pressed both drivers and people on foot to be more cautious and has rolled out its "Shift into Safe" campaign in an effort to curb deadly crashes, according to CDOT.
"The disturbing rise in pedestrian fatalities is not just a statistic," CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in the agency’s safety release, emphasizing investments in brighter, more visible crosswalks and slower speeds in neighborhoods. CDOT notes that most pedestrian deaths happen after dark and urges people to use marked crossings and follow traffic signals. Troopers with the Colorado State Patrol are continuing to investigate the I-76 crash and are asking anyone with information to contact CSP.
