A woman riding an e-bike has died after being struck by a car in Centennial on Sunday, near East Orchard Road and South Telluride Street, close to The Trails Recreation Center. The driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office first posted about the crash at 2:57 p.m. Sunday, according to The Denver Post. Paramedics took the injured bicyclist to a hospital, and sheriff's officials confirmed Monday that she died from her injuries. The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will formally identify her.
The sheriff's office temporarily closed westbound Orchard Road between Tower Road and Buckley Road, along with southbound Telluride Street, during the emergency response, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. East Orchard Road fully reopened by 5:45 p.m. Sunday, per the sheriff's office. Sheriff's officials have not confirmed whether criminal charges will be pursued.
A Month-Old E-Bike Ordinance Now Under Scrutiny
The crash comes about a month after Centennial adopted new municipal rules governing electric vehicles. The regulations bar Class 3 e-bikes and electric motorcycles from sidewalks and public trails, set a minimum age of 16 for electric motorcycles, and require helmets for riders under 18, according to the City of Centennial. It remains unclear what class or speed capability the e-bike involved in Sunday's crash had.
Colorado law already lays out specific protections for cyclists sharing the road with cars. Under state statute, drivers overtaking a bicyclist must maintain at least three feet of clearance between the vehicle, including mirrors, and the bicycle, according to Bike Jeffco. Separately, cyclists are granted the same rights and duties as motor vehicle drivers and may take the full travel lane to avoid hazards, prepare for a left turn, or when a lane is too narrow to share safely, per FindLaw.
Statewide Bicycle Deaths Have Been Climbing
Sunday's fatality lands amid a broader rise in bicyclist deaths across Colorado. Preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Transportation shows statewide bicycle fatalities jumped 29% in 2025, to 18 deaths from 14 the year before, part of 701 total traffic deaths statewide, according to CDOT fatality reports.
Centennial's Recent Push on Traffic Enforcement
Centennial's Recent Push on Traffic Enforcement Centennial has been ramping up traffic enforcement in recent years.
The fatal crash also follows a related incident Hoodline reported last month, when a sidewalk e-bike stop in Baker turned into a felony gun arrest, a case that surfaced around the same time Centennial's city council was moving to ban high-powered e-bikes and e-motorcycles from sidewalks, trails, and open spaces over rising safety concerns.
