A 23-year-old Aurora man who had been riding a minibike died Monday, a week after a head-on crash with an SUV on East Colfax Avenue near North Powhaton Road, according to Aurora police. He was taken to a hospital after the collision last Monday and died seven days later, authorities said.
Investigators say the crash happened at about 6:45 p.m., when the minibike swerved into the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with a Subaru SUV, according to a police release. The Subaru driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police have not said whether any charges will be filed. Initial reporting and the police release were summarized by The Denver Post.
Cluster Of Rider Deaths This Spring
The wreck is the latest in a string of deadly rider crashes in Aurora this spring, a pattern that local reporters and state transportation officials have flagged as especially grim so far this year. Recent Hoodline coverage of another June rider death underscored similar safety concerns on busy corridors.
The Arapahoe County coroner's office will release the man's name after notifying his family, officials said. Police told The Denver Post that the rider was not wearing a helmet and that no one else was injured.
Aurora's Traffic Investigations Unit is leading the active investigation and is still working to piece together what happened in the moments before impact. Hoodline Coverage of how officers handled witnesses with dashcam or cellphone video in prior cases notes that police often ask those bystanders to contact the department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers as the investigation continues.
