The Colorado State Patrol responded to multiple serious incidents during the first week of January while launching a year-long safety campaign aimed at reducing roadside worker injuries.
A 21-year-old Aurora man died January 6 when his Dodge Dakota lost control on Highway 9 near Silverthorne and rotated into the southbound lane, colliding head-on with a Ford F350. The Ford driver, a 32-year-old Silverthorne man, suffered moderate injuries. Highway 9 remained closed until 11:15 a.m. the following day. The Summit County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s identity after next of kin notification.
Two days later, a routine traffic stop on Interstate 76 near Commerce City turned violent when a driver refused to exit his white BMW M235i, became combative, then struck a trooper with his vehicle before fleeing. The trooper was transported to a hospital for evaluation. A second trooper drove himself to the hospital as a precaution. During the pursuit attempt, the struck trooper’s patrol vehicle skidded into the center median due to weather conditions and speed, disabling it. The suspect remains at large.
That same afternoon, a semi-tanker hauling northbound on Highway 9 rolled onto its side near Frisco at milepost 80, blocking both lanes. The driver was transported for medical evaluation. The highway closure duration was not immediately determined.
The patrol announced it will launch a “Put Yourself in Their Shoes” education campaign on January 12, partnering with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Western Tow and Recovery. The campaign addresses continued struck-by crashes despite Colorado’s August 2023 law expansion that requires drivers to slow down and move over for anyone with emergency lights activated. The press conference will include dashcam and body-worn camera footage of recent incidents.
In positive news, Colorado recorded a 34% decline in auto theft during 2025 compared to 2024, marking the third consecutive year of reductions. The state has seen a 61% drop in auto thefts since 2022. Chevrolet Silverados remained the most stolen vehicle, followed by Hyundai Elantras and Hyundai Sonatas. Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs led theft cities.
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