An 18-year-old Fort Collins man died Saturday night after his motorcycle collided with an SUV at West 29th Street and North Taft Avenue in Loveland, about one block from Loveland High School during the school's homecoming dance. Police say the rider's speed was a contributing factor, and the intersection stayed closed for hours as investigators worked the scene.
According to Denver7, the crash happened just before 8 p.m. The motorcyclist was riding a red-and-white 2012 Yamaha northbound on North Taft Avenue as he approached West 29th Street, according to North Forty News. A 17-year-old Loveland girl was driving a white 2022 Toyota RAV4 southbound in a designated turn lane, and the SUV entered the motorcycle's path as it began turning onto eastbound West 29th Street, the outlet reported. The motorcycle struck the RAV4, ejecting the rider.
Thompson Valley EMS personnel arrived shortly before Loveland police officers and began lifesaving measures on the motorcyclist, per the same account. He remained unresponsive and was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Loveland Reporter-Herald notes the Larimer County Coroner's Office will release his name once his family has been notified.
Crash Closed Intersection During Homecoming Night
The Reporter-Herald reported the crash occurred about a block away from Loveland High School during the school's homecoming dance, adding a layer of local shock to an already tragic scene. The intersection was closed for several hours while investigators worked, the outlet's report states.
Police said preliminary findings indicate the motorcyclist's speed contributed to the crash, though investigators currently do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors. The investigation remains ongoing, and the article notes that preliminary information could change as additional evidence is reviewed. The Loveland Police Department's CRASH Team has taken over the case, with Officer J. Slick handling follow-up investigative work, per Denver7.
Another Fatal Crash at a Taft Avenue Intersection
This is not the first deadly crash at a Taft Avenue intersection in Loveland. In July 2024, a motorcycle driver was killed in a collision with a sedan at Taft Avenue and First Street, according to the Denver Post. In that case, police said the motorcyclist had the right of way, and the sedan driver fled before later being arrested in the 400 block of West Fourth Street. That intersection, too, was closed for several hours as crews investigated.
Speed Remains Colorado's Top Motorcycle Killer
Saturday's crash fits into a troubling statewide pattern. Officials say speed is the number one contributing factor for motorcycle fatalities in Colorado, according to Colorado Public Radio. Fifteen motorcyclists were killed on Colorado roads between January and March this year, tying the highest total for that period since 2017, the station reported. CDOT cited an unusually warm winter alongside a spike in fatalities.
The state recorded 148 motorcycle fatalities in 2025, per CPR's reporting. A separate figure from the Colorado Department of Transportation also puts the 2025 total at 148 fatalities. The department reported that 49% of motorcyclists killed in Colorado over the last five years were not wearing a helmet.
Anyone with additional information about Saturday's crash is asked to contact the Loveland Police Department's non-emergency number at (970) 667-2151.
