A Sunday afternoon ride in Fort Collins ended in tragedy when a motorcyclist was killed in a crash at South College Avenue and Lorien Lane. Emergency crews rushed the rider to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he was later pronounced dead. Police say the occupants of the other vehicle were not hurt.
Crash details
According to Fort Collins Police Services, the collision happened at about 2:44 p.m. on May 24 and involved a 1996 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2005 Nissan Sentra. Investigators say the rider was ejected from the motorcycle in the impact. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, while the three adult males in the Nissan reported no injuries.
The department's CRASH, or Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling, Team has taken over the investigation and is looking into whether a turn violation played a role in the wreck.
As reported by CBS News Colorado, the rider was later pronounced dead at the hospital while investigators remained on scene. Local officials have not released the victim's name, citing the need to notify family members first.
Statewide context
The fatal crash comes at a time when state transportation officials say motorcycle deaths are climbing. In early May, the Colorado Department of Transportation reported that 15 motorcyclists were killed between January and March, calling it the deadliest opening quarter for riders since 2017. CDOT urged both motorists and motorcyclists to use extra caution, wear helmets, and avoid impairment, and noted that many motorcycle fatalities happen during the summer "100 Deadliest Days." See more from CDOT.
Investigation
Fort Collins police say the CRASH Team is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is asked to contact Officer Phil Morris at (970) 221-6842, according to the city news release. No charges or additional details have been announced as the investigation continues.
