Here's what's behind Larimer County's recent rash of fatal motorcycle crashes

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·4 min read
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A rash of fatal motorcycle crashes in Larimer County is causing concern among law enforcement officials.

As of Friday, the county has seen six motorcycle deaths in the past month, matching all of last year's total, and eight so far this year.

  • Three of those deaths occurred in Fort Collins.

  • Three occurred in the county: Near Masonville, near Carter Lake and near Virginia Dale.

  • Two occurred in Loveland.

On Saturday, Fort Collins police announced another fatal crash. A man died after crashing a dirt bike into a parked car west of the Colorado State University campus, according to the news release.

There are still months left in the motorcycle season, with motorcycle traffic increasing in the area around the popular Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, which runs through Aug. 13.

What's behind the recent rash of fatal motorcycle crashes in Larimer County

Capt. Bart Trippel of the Colorado State Patrol troop covering Larimer County said rider error resulting in lane violations and speeding were a common theme in the three crashes in unincorporated Larimer County. Those are common themes that carry over statewide, state patrol said.

"Most of these crashes, it's the motorcycle rider at fault, not some errant vehicle," said Trippel, who is a motorcycle rider and rode a motorcycle for years with CSP.

Trippel said two of the three county crashes included riders in the same group running into each other. The other involved the rider speeding and failing to negotiate a turn.

In the Fort Collins crashes, two occurred at intersections involving turning vehicles and one in a roundabout. The two intersection crashes involving turning vehicles remain under investigation. Rider inexperience is considered as possible contributing factor in the single-vehicle roundabout crash, according to Fort Collins police.

Loveland police said the investigation into a July 23 crash in city limits is still not complete, but preliminarily the motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the back of a parked towing trailer. An Aug. 6 case involved a crash at an intersection involving a turning vehicle and remains under investigation.

"I raced motocross and rode motorcycles for many years before riding motorcycles with Colorado State Patrol," Trippel said. "I thought I knew how to ride until I got formal training. That made a big difference, and I wish others would do the same and take a safety training class."

Fatal motorcycle crash causes in Fort Collins from 2020-2022

Fort Collins saw six motorcycle fatalities in the city combined from 2020 to 2022, according to the recently released city of Fort Collins 2022 Annual Roadway Safety Report.

  • Two were right-angle crashes in which a motor vehicle hit a motorcyclist at a nonsignalized intersection.

  • Two involved a motorcycle running off the road.

  • One involved a motorcycle turning left in front of oncoming traffic.

  • One involved a motorcycle rear-ending a motor vehicle.

Trend in motorcycle crashes in Fort Collins

  • The general trend of motorcycle crashes in the city is decreasing, though severe crashes have remained generally steady from 2018 to 2022.

  • The city averaged 44 motorcycle crashes, with 27 severe (involving injuries/fatalities) and two fatalities from 2018 to 2022.

  • Overall, 25% of all crashes involving a motor vehicle result in some type of injury while 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury.

  • Motorcycle crashes have the highest percentage of severe crashes at 67% compared to 58% for bicycle and pedestrian crashes each and 9% of motor vehicle crashes.

Major factors involving motorcycle crashes

  • In Fort Collins, 85% of motorcycle crashes occur on arterial (main) roads, 26% are not at intersections and 21% are single-vehicle crashes.

  • Nationally, about 42% of all motorcycle crashes occurred as a result of other motorists making a left-hand turn into the path of the motorcycle; 41% of motorcyclists who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol impaired and 34% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, according to the National Highway and Traffic Administration.

  • 41% of all motorcycle crashes are due to drivers failing to see motorcycles.

Colorado motorcycle fatalities 2002 to 2022.
Colorado motorcycle fatalities 2002 to 2022.

Colorado fatal motorcycle crash trend quickly rising

  • Motorcycle fatalities in Colorado have increased from 103 in 2018 to a record 149 in 2022.

  • 78 motorcyclists have died on Colorado roads so far in 2023, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

  • 75 of the 149 motorcycle fatalities in 2022 involved riders not wearing helmets. Colorado law requires only riders younger than 18 years of age to wear a helmet.

  • Motorcyclists represent 20% of the state's total traffic fatalities but only 3% of the state’s vehicle registrations.

What motorcyclists and motorists can do to reduce motorcycle crashes

Motorcyclists

  • Obey speed limits.

  • Do not drive impaired.

  • Pay particular attention at intersections for turning vehicles.

  • Wear a helmet.

Vehicle motorists

  • Always check blind spots for motorcycles.

  • Always look twice when pulling onto a roadway.

  • Avoid distractions such as your phone.

  • Never follow motorcycles too closely.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Rash of fatal motorcycle crashes in Larimer County causes concern