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Monday, Jun 8, 2026

Did 2026 start as one of the deadliest years for Colorado motorcyclists in the past decade?

Cassis Tingley, The Colorado Sun
yes

Fifteen motorcyclists died on Colorado roads during the first three months of 2026, in the deadliest start to a year since 2017. 

But a less lethal spring put a stop to the trend. As of June 1, Colorado logged 28 motorcycle fatalities, the lowest since 2019. That’s a 24% drop from last year, which saw 37 motorcycle deaths through the end of May. 

Motorcycle deaths tend to rise between Labor Day and Memorial Day, state transportation authorities say. From 2015 to 2025, 58% of all motorcycle deaths occurred between June and September.

Since 2011, annual motorcycle deaths have increased roughly 90% statewide. Despite accounting for just 3% of all Colorado vehicles, motorcyclists made up roughly 21% of the state’s traffic fatalities last year.

Colorado’s deadliest year for motorcyclists was 2024 with 165 deaths, followed by 2022 and 2025, which both recorded 149 deaths. 

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