The Colorado State Patrol is reminding drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to stay alert after five people were killed in separate crashes over the weekend in the Denver area.

From early Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, four pedestrians and a bicyclist were killed in separate motor vehicle crashes around the Denver area, with only two of the drivers identified at this time, according to CSP and the Denver Police Department.

“The pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities were preventable and should be a wake-up call for all of us,” CSP Chief Col. Matthew Packard said in a news release. “Don’t assume that other roadway users see you, just because you see them. Make eye contact and proceed with caution.”

The slew of incidents began at about 3 a.m. Saturday morning on southbound Interstate 25 when a driver, whose vehicle had broken down by the exit to Colorado Boulevard, was struck and killed by a dark-colored Toyota truck while outside their vehicle, according to Denver police. The truck fled and the victim was pronounced dead on the scene after police arrived.

One dead after hit-and-run crash near I-25 southbound in Denver Saturday morning

Another occurred at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning when a pedestrian walking southbound across North Speer Boulevard against the signal was struck and killed by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Colfax Avenue, Denver police said. The suspect, 22-year-old Jose Hernandez, was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

Just a half hour later, a pedestrian was struck and killed on southbound Interstate 25. The person was not associated with a vehicle and police do not know why the person was on the interstate, Denver police said. There is no suspect or vehicle information available at this time.

At about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, a fourth death occurred when skis fell off a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 70 at Federal Boulevard. As a person from the vehicle was on foot retrieving the skis, that person was struck and killed by another motorist, according to Denver police. The motorist stayed at the scene and there have been no charges filed.

Denver police investigate 3 fatal crashes, 2 hit-and-run incidents Sunday morning

The last reported incident occurred just before noon Sunday when CSP responded to a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of 95th Street and Avocet Lane in northeast Lafayette after a blue Toyota Highlander struck and killed a cyclist before fleeing the scene, according to a CSP news release. 

The initial investigation into the crash indicated that the Highlander has a Colorado plate of DTSG89, and has heavy front-end damage including a missing windshield, the release says.

In light of the deadly weekend of auto-pedestrian crashes, CSP is reminding drivers to slow down, be attentive when entering crosswalks and turn their headlights on at night, according to the release. Additionally, police are asking pedestrians to use sidewalks and crosswalks where possible and to make eye contact with drivers before crossing roads.

Police are also reminding bicyclists to stay attentive on the roadways, using bike lanes and shoulders where possible and wearing proper protective gear, according to the release.

Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in Colorado have increased 78% since 2015, while passenger vehicle deaths increased 7% in that same timeframe, the release says. Over 130 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities occurred in 2024 alone, the second-deadliest year on record for those groups.

Anyone with information about the crashes in Denver are asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. 

Anyone with information about the crash involving the bicyclist is asked to contact Colorado State Patrol Dispatch at (303) 239-4501. The reference case number for the cyclist crash is 1D251939.