Colorado is heading into prime riding season with a grim milestone already on the books, as state officials warn that deadly crashes involving motorcyclists are climbing faster than they have in years.
CDOT Data at a Glance
From Jan. 1 through March 31, 15 motorcyclists were killed on Colorado roads, the deadliest first quarter for riders since 2017, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The agency reports that 148 riders were killed in 2025, making up roughly 21% of all traffic fatalities that year, and that motorcycle deaths have risen nearly 90% over the last 15 years.
What Officials Are Saying
State transportation leaders are not sugarcoating the trend. CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew called the latest numbers alarming and urged drivers and riders alike to take road safety more seriously. "It is imperative for all road users to exercise caution and follow the laws that protect themselves and others," Lew said, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
A Near-Miss in Thornton
Thornton motorcyclist Thomas Berkheim recently found himself on the wrong side of those statistics. He told 9News that on April 20 a black Jeep hit his 2023 Harley Road Glide near E. 120th Avenue and Fairfax Street, then took off. Berkheim said he wound up in the emergency room with back pain, missed work and only recently got back on the job. "After that, the only thing I remember is getting hit," he told the station.
Local Hotspots and Timing
Local law enforcement and traffic officials told The Denver Gazette that early 2026 deaths have been clustered in Adams County, Denver, and Aurora, often at busy intersections or on higher-speed corridors. State data and reporting note that historically, about 58% of Colorado motorcycle fatalities happen between June and September, a stretch many in traffic safety circles refer to as the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer."
How Riders and Drivers Can Help
Rider advocates and state officials are leaning on the basics, and they are not exactly secret. They point to wearing a DOT-approved helmet, taking a certified safety course and staying sober in the saddle as some of the most effective ways to keep crashes from turning fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that helmets saved 1,872 lives nationwide in 2017.
Across Colorado, agencies are also pushing public-awareness campaigns, including local outreach efforts and guidance on lane filtering, in an attempt to slow the trend, as Hoodline reported in a motorcycle safety campaign in Denver.
