Timnath community mourns 10-year-old killed in crash

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·3 min read
A memorial to 10-year-old Oliver Stratton, who was killed in an Aug. 2 crash near the intersection, is displayed at the southeast corner of River Pass Road and Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.
A memorial to 10-year-old Oliver Stratton, who was killed in an Aug. 2 crash near the intersection, is displayed at the southeast corner of River Pass Road and Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

Update: Aug. 10: Timnath police updated details of this crash, correcting its initial report. The new detail states the 10-year-old was riding south on Saddle Horn Drive and was crossing River Pass Road when the collision occurred with an eastbound vehicle on River Pass Road.

Original story

A 10-year-old Timnath boy died Thursday afternoon after being flown to Children's Hospital in Aurora with serious injuries suffered when he collided with a vehicle on his bike Wednesday evening.

The crash happened at approximately 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at the intersection of River Pass Road and Saddle Horn Drive in a residential neighborhood in Timnath, according to Timnath police.

Police say preliminary reports indicate the boy was traveling westbound on River Pass Road and abruptly turned left onto Saddle Horn Drive in front of the oncoming vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on River Pass Road.

Timnath Police Chief Terry Jones said the boy was transported via ambulance to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, and then airlifted to Children's Hospital in Aurora.

"The circumstances are just tragic for the child, his family and driver of the vehicle,'' Jones said.

The boy's mother, Clarissa Stratton, confirmed on social media that her son Oliver, an incoming fifth-grader at Bethke Elementary School, died shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday.

Bethke Principal Ann Alfonso shared the news with parents of the Timnath school's students Thursday night, writing in an email that Oliver passed "being held by his family."

"(Oliver) was only 10 years old and the kindest soul," she wrote in an email. "His parents shared he couldn't wait for the school year at Bethke because his brother was going to go with him."

By Friday morning, a growing memorial was placed at the intersection of River Pass and Saddle Horn as Timnath Ranch residents stopped to place flowers, stuffed animals, Pokémon cards and other mementos in Oliver's memory.

An vigil was planned for 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 at the site, according to a post on the Timnath Ranch Facebook group. Information on how to send memories of Oliver and to support the family is posted on the group's page.

A GoFundMe site has been established to help the family.

Jones said preliminary reports indicate the vehicle involved in the crash was traveling approximately 30 mph in the area with a posted speed limited of 40 mph. He said the driver remained on scene and that neither speed nor impairment appear to be causes of the crash.

The Larimer County Collison Reconstruction and Scene Handling Team team continues to investigate the crash and will determine if any criminal charges are filed.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date, Alfonso wrote.

Anyone struggling in the wake of Oliver's passing is encouraged to reach out the following community support resources:

  • SummitStone Health Partners’ Community Crisis Center, 1217 Riverside Ave. in Fort Collins: 970-494-4200

  • Pathways of Northern Colorado (hospice): 970-663-3500

  • Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Connections (CAYAC): 970-221-3308

  • Connections adult services: 970-221-5551

  • Text or call 988 if you or someone you know is struggling.

  • Call the Colorado Crisis Services line 24/7/365 at 1-844-493-8255 (or text “TALK” to 38255).

Coloradoan editor Eric Larsen contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Timnath 10-year-old dies after crash with vehicle