FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2024
MOTORCYCLIST PURSUIT RESULTS IN CRASH AND ONGOING INVESTIGATION
GRAND COUNTY, CO – On Monday, August 26, 2024, at approximately 7:09 p.m. a Grand County Sheriff’s Office Deputy observed a motorcycle traveling at an excessive speed of 87 miles-per-hour in a posted 50 miles-per-hour zone westbound on Highway 40 at approximately mile marker 211.5 (west end of Granby). The Deputy attempted a traffic stop on the motorcycle using a marked patrol vehicle with the emergency lights and siren activated, however the motorcyclist accelerated and continued westbound on Highway 40, reaching speeds up to 134 miles per hour. A vehicle pursuit was initiated and continued westbound through the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs, Byers Canyon and then continued towards the Town of Parshall.
A Grand County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was prepositioned on the shoulder of the roadway at Highway 40 and County Road 3. As the Deputy activated his emergency lights to encourage the motorcyclist to surrender, the motorcyclist turned around and started to head back eastbound towards Hot Sulphur Springs. As the motorcyclist continued back eastbound, he drove head on with the initial pursuing Deputy who was forced to change lanes to avoid a head on collision. As the motorcyclist attempted to then pass the Deputy on the eastbound shoulder, the motorcyclist and patrol vehicle collided, causing the motorcyclist to go off the eastbound shoulder and crash. As a result of this collision, the Deputy was uninjured, however the motorcyclist was evaluated by Grand County EMS on scene and transported to a local hospital where he was evaluated.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin requested the activation of the 14th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to investigate this incident and conduct an impartial investigation due to the collision of the motorcyclist and the patrol vehicle.
Critical incidents in Grand County are investigated by the 14th Judicial District CIRT. CIRT is comprised of representatives of the Steamboat Police Department, Routt County Sheriff’s Office, Granby Police Department, Fraser Winter Park Police Department, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Craig Police Department, Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The CIRT is activated when a law enforcement agency is involved in a critical incident to ensure an independent investigation. Because the Grand County Sheriff’s Office was involved in this incident, the Craig Police Department is leading this investigation on behalf of the CIRT and was assisted in this incident by the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, Routt County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol. As the investigation remains active and ongoing, the identity of the motorcyclist is not being released at this time.
The information contained in this press release is based on preliminary information available at the time of drafting. The Grand County Sheriff’s Offices’ understanding of this incident may change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed and reviewed. The purpose of this press release is to provide timely information to the public. Any charges are simply an accusation and all parties must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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