Deer jumps on trike motorcycle, killing husband and seriously injuring wife

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A deer jumped onto a moving three-wheeled motorcycle and caused it to crash near Lyons last week, leading to a rider’s death on Tuesday and seriously hurting his wife.

Darren and Amber Strough of Lyons were driving down Highway 66 in Boulder County on June 18 around 3:30 p.m., not far from a large cement plant. They were returning from a family reunion in Iowa and were just 12 minutes away from their home in Lyons when tragedy struck.

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The couple was driving their Harley-Davidson trike motorcycle along the roadway when the doe jumped on top of them, causing them to crash. Family members were behind them and saw the whole thing happen.

On Tuesday, the family told FOX31 that Darren had passed away from his injuries.

“A deer came out and jumped and hit both my parents and I believe knocked them unconscious as they were on the bike, and then they tumbled off the bike onto the right side in the ditch,” said Madison Strough, the couple’s daughter.

A couple sits on a Harley Davidson, overlayed ontop of a busy road.
A couple sits on a Harley Davidson, overlayed ontop of a busy road.

Madison said the deer hit the couple from the side. The Stroughs were not wearing helmets and suffered serious brain injuries.

The family’s been trying to stay strong.

“It’s hard to say because we all have like our moments and every day is different. I’m grateful that we have each other,” Madison said.

Darren Strough was an experienced driver and has ridden motorcycles his whole life. During the past two years, Colorado State Patrol says more than 3,000 crashes between vehicles and animals were reported annually. Less than 1% result in serious injury.

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There are warning signs on many roadways. But what happened to Darren and Amber Strough, the family said, could not have been prevented.

The family told FOX31 that Darren and Amber had been unable to speak but had shown some movement before Darren passed away on Tuesday. With medical bills mounting, a GoFundMe has been set up.

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