Photo by Amber McIver-Trawick – A crash at the intersection of North Highway 287 and West County Road 8 in Berthoud involving three vehicles and a motorcycle claimed the life of a 54-year-old Denver woman in the afternoon hours of Wednesday Jan. 9. Traffic was diverted for more than three hours while the incident was being investigated.

Special to the Surveyor

On Wednesday afternoon,  Jan. 9, 2018, at approximately 3:24 p.m., the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a motor vehicle crash in the intersection of North Highway 287 and West County Road 8 in Berthoud. Deputies responded and discovered a crash involving a motorcycle and three passenger vehicles.

North Highway 287 and West County Road 8 were closed in all directions for about three and a half hours. During this time traffic was diverted while an investigation was underway.

Another crash occurred shortly after that at 3:38 p.m. a quarter mile south of the first accident on Highway 287 involving two vehicles.  One vehicle rolled over coming to a stop in the median. No injuries were reported. The second crash may have been a result of the backed up traffic due to the first accident according to a Facebook post by the Berthoud Fire Protection District.

The investigation thus far has revealed that a 2015 Kia SUV driven by a 43-year-old Fort Collins woman was traveling northbound through the intersection. A motorcycle, Toyota SUV, and Chevrolet pickup truck had also entered the intersection traveling westbound. The Kia struck the motorcycle and the Toyota which caused the Toyota to strike the pickup.

The adult female driver of the Toyota was transported to a local hospital and treated for serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The 54-year-old Denver woman operating the motorcycle was also transported to a local hospital and did not survive her injuries. The Larimer County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the woman after next of kin notifications are made.

The crash investigation is ongoing and investigators do not suspect drugs and/or alcohol as contributing factors.

When the investigation is complete, investigators will screen the case with the Larimer County District Attorney to determine if criminal charges will be sought. Anyone who witnessed this crash and has not already spoken to deputies is asked to call Deputy Chris Gilliland at 970-498-5516.