CYCLIST HIT, KILLED BY VEHICLE IN PARKER: Driver Drifts into Bike Lane

Beth Young, 54, has been charged in the death of a cyclist

UPDATE DECEMBER 5 2017 – Cycling victim & distracted driver identified; 9News reports driver was adjusting volume on cell phone

From  Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

John Kirby, a 53-year-old Douglas County resident, lost his life on the evening of November 27, 2017, when he was hit by a distracted driver on Hess Rd. 

John was traveling eastbound on Hess Rd at Double Angle Rd and was in the bike lane when the distracted 54-year-old, Beth Young, veered into the bike lane striking and killing him.

Yesterday, charges were recommended to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office – Colorado for Beth. Beth has been booked and has posted bond on the charge of Careless Driving Causing Death.

We would like to express our condolences to John’s friends and family; We are so sorry for your loss. We also want this to serve as a reminder to all that distracted driving does have consequences. Not all cases of distracted driving will end as tragically as this case did, however, all cases have the potential to end tragically and there will be consequences for distracted drivers.

9News reports, “The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Beth Young, faces charges for careless driving causing death. The sheriff’s office says she is out on bond. . . Young told investigators that just before the crash happened, her cell phone — which was connected to the stereo system of her car — started ringing, according to an arrest affidavit.”

Details are limited but both The Denver Post and 9News report on the Hess Road cyclist death:

From The Denver Post

Bike rider killed in crash when driver drifts into Douglas County bike lane

A bicyclist died after a vehicle drifted into the bike lane and hit him Monday in Douglas County.

Undetermined charges are pending against the driver who will be identified if charges are filed, said Lauren Lekander, spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

From 9News

The cyclist has not yet been identified.

A cyclist was hit and killed by a car Monday afternoon on a two lane road in Parker.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the crash occurred on Hess Road near Double Angel Road.

The cyclist has not yet been identified by the Douglas County coroner, who is conducting an autopsy.

A spokesperson for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office could not give details about the circumstances surrounding the crash, but did say charges are pending for the driver while investigators await the coroner’s report and a few more details from their probe into the apparent accident.

Hess Road was closed near where the crash occurred for hours Monday afternoon.

It has since reopened.

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Comments

15 Comments

  1. Devin Quince

    The driver killed the cyclist, not the car!

  2. D V

    Very sad…popular route for cyclists due to wide shoulder, cat4 climb and light to moderate traffic. Ride there on average once a week.

  3. B Goering

    I’ve ridden this road as part of my standard “route” at least a 100 times and DRIVERS are drifting all the time. Ridgegate, just north of Hess, is even worse from a drifting standpoint and its not a distraction issue as much of as simply bad driving skills and habits (lack of lane discipline). Drivers will go by me and within 20-30 feet of passing me will have drifted back across the white line far enough to have hit me. I witness the same thing when I drive. Most of Hess Rd. can’t have a rumble strip put in without excessive costs but I have no idea why there can’t be one put into the shoulder on Ridgegate. While this would have a minor negative impact on cyclists, I believe we can deal with a slightly reduced bike lane/shoulder.

  4. Hezbilly H. Trinity

    I ride Hess all the time. Because of its relative isolation, that road is a veritable race track for cars most of the time. They can run unabated and with impunity 24/7. Doesn’t seem to be on the DougCo Sheriff’s radar. Love to see more patrols. My condolences to the victim’s family.

    • Charles Westerdale

      Many people in the Denver Metro cycling community are interested in some follow-up coverage of this trajedy. Who was the cyclist that was killed? Have Vehicular Homicide of Manslaughter charges been brought against the driver? If not, why not? What was the cause of the accident? What is the identity of the driver who killed this man?

  5. Dreux DeMack

    Was the cyclist’s name ever released, I know people there.

  6. M M

    I ride and drive Hess often (as my house is practically in the picture above). I get tailgated when I drive the speed limit or when I slow as I approach a cyclist. I really wish they patrolled this strip more in an attempt to slow people down. This is a popular ride but as a mom myself it makes it hard to want to get out there when things like this happen. It’s not worth the loss to my kids.

  7. P H

    This was just posted on Nextdoor by the PIO of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office:

    John Kirby, a 53-year-old Douglas County resident, lost his life on the evening of November 27, 2017, when he was hit by a distracted driver on Hess Rd.

    John was traveling eastbound on Hess Rd at Double Angle Rd and was in the bike lane when the distracted 54-year-old, Beth Young, veered into the bike lane striking and killing him.

    Yesterday, charges were recommended to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office – Colorado for Beth. Beth has been booked and has posted bond on the charge of Careless Driving Causing Death.

    We would like to express our condolences to John’s friends and family; We are so sorry for your loss.

    We also want this to serve as a reminder to all that distracted driving does have consequences. Not all cases of distracted driving will end as tragically as this case did, however, all cases have the potential to end tragically and there will be consequences for distracted drivers.

  8. JD

    Unfortunately this is happening way too much. My condolences to the family.

    I ride this stretch frequently and was on it December 3rd. It appears state patrol and DougCo Sheriff have it on their radar. I saw two sheriff cars going opposite directions with one pulling someone over and a state patrol passed me as well. Let’s hope this continues and it is not just a quick response to a tragic incident.

  9. JD

    Unfortunately this is happening way too much. My condolences to the family.

    It seems that DougCo Sheriff & State Patrol are stepping up patrol of Hess. I rode Hess December 3rd and saw two sheriff cars going opposite directions with one pulling somone over. I was also passed by a state trooper on my way up Hess West bound. Let’s hope this response continues and isn’t a quick response to a tragic incident.

  10. Greg

    My condolences to the family. These things should not happen but unfortunately do because of bad driving behaviors. I’d like to see many more tickets visibility given so as to remind drivers that this isn’t I-25 that they just got off or are racing to get to. I love taking this ride due to the hilly challenge and I do think that cars drive way too fast even with two lanes in the North side, a car going past you at 60 mph+ is very concerning!

  11. SunnyCO

    I ride Hess often too, and to my horror, 95% of the riders are wearing black! I’m not saying anything against this person/accident. What I am saying is that as riders we need to make our self as visible as possible. Stop riding two or three across and wear something bright with bright socks.

    • Eric Sims Jr.

      SunnyCO, you ride in that fluorescent yellow vest, rearview mirror on your glasses, and enjoy your perch of judgment.

      • Adam

        Eric, why so smarmy? SunnyCO is not wrong. His point is to be visible, which isn’t shifting blame but good sense. An easy compromise that doesn’t require you to wear Day-Glo is to run a super bright rear and front light (so many crappy dim lights out there). They are small, light and relatively cheap and the right ones are daylight visible. Don’t forget the front light either. I was hit by a car that made an abrupt left right in front of me as he didn’t see me. I had a rear light on but didn’t think I needed a front blinky. Turns out there are about as many bike/car accidents from the front as from the rear. I’m running a pair with the front on my head tube and the rear fits and aero seat post: https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Front-Hotrod-Light-Combo/dp/B01IO134OU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1531863626&sr=8-3&keywords=cygolite+hotrod

  12. AEMoore

    Cell phones when being used in a car should be prosecuted severely as a life was lost because this woman was adjusting the volume. Denver has become a nightmare for anyone on a bike and I, although born and raised here cannot wait to move far away forever in approximately 18 months. Colorado has become California

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