On July 20, 2023, at approximately 4:33 PM, Fort Collins Police officers attempted to stop a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle for a traffic violation near the intersection of South Lemay Avenue and East Trilby Road. The sole rider of the motorcycle was an adult male who was not wearing a helmet. The motorcycle fled southbound on Lemay Avenue at a high rate of speed before making a U-turn and going back northbound, and then turning eastbound on Trilby Road. Once the motorcycle began to head northbound, the officers quit following the motorcycle and turned off their emergency equipment. A short distance to the east of Lemay Avenue, the motorcycle made another U-turn and began heading west on Trilby Road. The motorcyclist disregarded the red light for the direction that he was travelling and began to quickly accelerate in the intersection. The motorcycle was struck by a 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser which was travelling southbound on Lemay and had the right of way. The motorcyclist was thrown from the motorcycle and both him and the motorcycle came to rest on the west side of Lemay Avenue.

The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the PT Cruiser was the only person in that vehicle and was uninjured. Due to the severity of the motorcyclist’s injuries, the Fort Collins Police CRASH (Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling) Team responded to take over the investigation. The intersection of Lemay and Trilby was closed for approximately 5 and a ½ hours while investigators processed the scene. “Unfortunately, this motorcyclist chose to elude law enforcement in a reckless manner endangering himself and other drivers, which resulted in serious injuries. This incident could have been prevented had the motorcycle rider stopped as required by law,” said Sergeant Mike Avrech who oversees the Fort Collins Police CRASH Team.

The investigation into this collision is ongoing and anyone who has information regarding it and has not already spoken to police is asked to call Officer Matt Brede at (970) 221-6842.