One person was killed Saturday afternoon when an RTD A Line commuter train struck a pedestrian in the 4200 block of N. Jackson Street in northeast Denver, forcing the Regional Transportation District to pull trains from the tracks and roll out shuttle buses instead. The swap from rail to road quickly tangled travel between Union Station and Denver International Airport, with RTD warning riders that the bus bridge could tack roughly 30 minutes onto their trips while crews and police worked the scene. Streets in the immediate area were closed for the investigation, and travelers were urged to build in extra time.
Denver police told Denver7 the crash happened in the 4200 block of N. Jackson Street and confirmed that one person was killed. According to the outlet, RTD issued an alert shortly after 1 p.m. announcing that shuttle buses were replacing A Line trains while the scene remained active. Denver7 identified Union Station, 38th & Blake, 40th & Colorado and Central Park as the main stops caught up in the disruption.
RTD Response And Rider Impacts
RTD regularly turns to bus shuttles to cover parts of the A Line when rail service is halted for police activity or repairs, and the agency asks riders to keep a close eye on its Service Alerts and the NextRide app for real time updates. The agency's news page carries multiple advisories that spell out how bus bridges are staged to keep connections alive between Union Station and Denver Airport during emergencies and routine maintenance. Riders at Union Station told reporters they were stuck in long lines waiting to board the shuttle buses while police remained on scene.
Where Service Was Disrupted
As reported by Denver7, the replacement buses covered the stretch between Union Station and Central Park, with trains either turning back early or being swapped out entirely for shuttle runs that added roughly 30 minutes to the schedule. Passengers headed for the airport said they were rerouted onto buses that then had to battle heavier street traffic than the trains they replaced, stretching trip times during an already busy travel window.
A Pattern Of Rail Disruptions
Rail to pedestrian collisions have shut down RTD lines before. CBS Colorado reported an A Line fatality in February that forced a bus bridge between Union Station and Central Park, and The Denver Gazette covered a deadly collision on the G Line in Arvada in May. Those incidents have renewed calls for stronger pedestrian protections at crossings and clearer contingency plans for travelers trying to reach the airport.
Denver police and RTD did not immediately release more details about the investigation or the identity of the person who died. Riders are being urged to check RTD's Service Alerts and the NextRide app for the latest updates and alternative travel options.
