Editor’s note: The facts of this story will continue to be updated as the Clarion learns more from official law enforcement sources.
Story updated at 2:00 p.m. 10/2/2013 to reflect new information released from DU Marketing and Communications
According to a Denver Police Department (DPD) officer on the scene, DPD received a call at 7:21 p.m. on Tuesday night of a female bicyclist struck by an SUV at the intersection of University Boulevard and Warren Avenue, located near the Daniels College of Business.
The cyclist, whose condition is still unknown, is not a DU student.
“(Department of Campus Safety) Commander Holt tells me that he has not received any update on the young lady’s condition. He tells me that she was not a student at the University of Denver. The driver was not connected to DU either,” said Will Jones, DU external communications manager.
Within 15 minutes, an ambulance transported the victim from the scene. No official information has been released on her current condition, and it is not yet known whether she is affiliated with the university.
A black Toyota 4Runner SUV heading north on University Boulevard was involved in the accident, and remained on the scene throughout the investigation that followed.
An hour after the accident, glass and debris could be seen in the intersection of University Boulevard and Warren Avenue. The debris included a bicycle “u-lock” as well as a bicycle basket.
The accident closed University Boulevard from Evans Avenue to Iliff Avenue for more than two hours.
Evans Avenue and University Boulevard, one block from the accident, was the scene of a similar accident in 2012, when a DU graduate student was killed in a hit-and-run, in which the vehicle ran a red light, according to a May 31, 2012 Clarion article.
Another DU student was killed last April in a fatal accident near Evans Avenue and High Street.
DU students Phillip Strom and Noelle Limbird, who were walking by the scene at 8:30 p.m., expressed their condolences about the accident.
“It was unfortunate,” said Strom.
Strom said that he recently saw an incident that nearly resulted in a bicycle-vehicle crash.
“[We] actually almost watched someone get hit on a bike earlier today. Right next to Nelson, at the four-way stop,” said Strom.
An awareness campaign, called “Heads Up”, was recently initiated across campus to bring more attention to the issue of bicycle-related accidents near campus. For more information on the Heads Up campaign, see the October 1 Clarion article.
