Bicyclists Ride To Scene Of Deadly Hit & Run To Dedicate 'Ghost Bike'
LARIMER COUNTY (CBS4) - Dozens of bicyclists rode from Fort Collins to Carter Lake where a man died in a hit-and-run crash.
Jason Holden, 43, was riding his bike eastbound on Larimer County Road 8E last Tuesday when a passing motorist struck him and didn't stop.
Several groups across Northern Colorado, including Bike Fort Collins, came together to organize a vigil ride to dedicate a "ghost bike" placed at the scene of the collision.
Colorado State Patrol investigators believed that Holden tumbled into the westbound lane when he was hit by another vehicle. The driver of that vehicle did stop. Holden died at the scene.
Authorities said they had received several tips from citizens about a car with a driver who may have seen the vehicle that was responsible for the deadly hit-and-run accident.
The possible witness was believed to be driving a 2000 Lexus RX300.
Troopers turned to the public for help and had not identified a suspect in the hit-and-run crash.
"I can't believe that you wouldn't know that you clipped a bicyclist," said Shirley Bowman, who works in the area and watched the vigil dedication.
Cyclists placed flowers into the spokes of the ghost bicycle, which was painted entirely white.
Holden was hit while riding around a sharp curve of the county road that winds through a scenic area near Carter Lake.
"I understand that it's a beautiful place to ride your bicycle, but it's also a dangerous place," said Bowman.
Bowman said that passing motorists often drive too fast along the road, and that other bicyclists had also been hit.
"It's really heartbreaking that there's not a better way for everybody to just share the road," Bowman said. "It's so crowded up here and it's so dangerous; there so much traffic."
A GoFundMe account had been set up for Holden's family.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.