Fort Collins Police Investigate Vehicle-Motorcycle Collision on College Avenue
Fort Collins Police Department's specialized collision investigation team responded to a vehicle-motorcycle crash north of Trilby Road on College Avenue on October 17, closing the major arterial roadway for several hours during the afternoon commute.
The CRASH Team, which handles serious vehicular collisions in Fort Collins, was called to the scene around 3:20 p.m. Northbound College Avenue traffic was rerouted at Carpenter Road, while southbound lanes were reduced to a single lane during the investigation.
Police advised drivers to find alternate routes, warning that the road would remain closed for several hours while investigators documented the scene and gathered evidence.
The department did not release information about injuries or the condition of those involved in the collision. No details about the cause of the crash were provided in the initial announcement.
CRASH Team Conducts Specialized Investigation
The Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling Team represents Fort Collins Police Services' specialized unit for responding to serious vehicular collisions, particularly those involving significant injuries or fatalities.
CRASH Team members receive extensive post-basic training in collision investigation and reconstruction, including approximately 40 hours of basic crash investigation coursework and an additional 80 to 120 hours of advanced reconstruction training, according to Fort Collins Police Services policy documentation. Members also complete specialized instruction in event data recorder analysis, pedestrian and motorcycle collision dynamics, and forensic mapping techniques.
The team conducts forensic investigations using specialized technology including 3D mapping and trajectory analysis to determine crash causes, contributing factors, vehicle speeds and responsibility. During serious injury or fatality collisions, roads are typically closed for several hours to allow thorough documentation and reconstruction.
Major collision closures on College Avenue commonly last between three and seven hours depending on scene complexity and the need for supplementary evidence collection.
College Avenue Carries Heavy Daily Traffic
College Avenue serves as US Highway 287 through Fort Collins, functioning as a principal arterial road that carries more than 30,000 vehicles daily. The high traffic volume makes any extended closure highly disruptive to Northern Colorado commuters.
When closures occur on this corridor, Fort Collins Police coordinate detours via Carpenter Road, Drake Road, Prospect Road and Lemay Avenue for north-south and east-west traffic. Traffic congestion typically extends significantly on alternate routes, especially during peak hours between 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
Motorcycle Collisions Carry High Injury Risk
Vehicle-motorcycle collisions in Northern Colorado result in substantially higher injury rates compared to standard vehicle crashes. According to Colorado Department of Transportation data, Larimer and Weld Counties together average more than 100 vehicle-motorcycle collisions annually, with fatal and serious injury rates for motorcyclists running more than 20 times higher than those for car or truck occupants.
Fort Collins police records indicate the city experiences between eight and 15 serious or fatal vehicle-motorcycle collisions per year. Over 80 percent of reported vehicle-motorcycle collisions in Northern Colorado result in injury or death to the motorcyclist, compared to under 2 percent for drivers in standard vehicle crashes, according to CDOT statistics.
The majority of serious vehicle-motorcycle collisions involve broadside impacts or left-turn violations, with fault assignment more often placed on the non-motorcycle driver for failure to yield or inattentive driving.