Boulder County’s cycling community is grieving the death of 41-year-old cyclist and Broomfield resident John Wilkinson, who was killed by a motorist.

Wilkinson and three pedestrians in metro Denver were killed in separate crashes within eight hours of one another on May 18.

Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in Colorado have increased 78% since 2015, according to Colorado State Patrol statistics.

The alarming number of crashes and fatalities, including the high-profile death of 17-year old cycling star Magnus White in 2023, is sparking a conversation among Colorado cyclists and safety advocates about what needs to change to keep vulnerable road users protected.

Discussions have centered on harsher penalties, expanded infrastructure, technological safeguards and better education.

Wilkinson, originally from Miami, had been working at the bike shop CyclErie for several months prior to his death.

Co-worker Andrew Geffner spoke of their developing friendship.

The two were both originally from Miami-Dade County, and would often discuss places back home they used to go to.

“It was very easy to bond with him because we just thought alike,” said Geffner.

The two would often ride home from work together. Geffner described Wilkinson as someone who never got upset, with a hilarious personality and a “signature chuckle.”

“He looked out for me like the bigger brother I never had,” he said.

Dan Johnson, co-owner of CyclErie, said Wilkinson had “no ego” despite being well known in the cycling community.

“I only got the chance to know John for three or four months and in that short timeframe he made such an impact on us,” he said.

Wilkinson was hit that Sunday around noon when a blue Toyota Highlander struck him at 95th Street and Avocet Lane.

Following the crash, the Highlander fled the scene northbound on 95th Street, according to witnesses, with heavy front-end damage and a missing windshield.

Wilkinson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Geffner described the loose plans he had to ride with Wilkinson that morning, but he overslept and wasn’t feeling well.

“Not only did I lose a close to best friend, but to me it was almost like the death of cycling.”

The issue of cyclist safety strikes a nerve for Geffner, because he too was hit by a car while cycling in Boulder County six years ago — not far from where Wilkinson was killed.

His own crash made him nervous around cars and ended his aspirations of becoming a competitive racing cyclist.

Eventually, Geffner got back on the road and now commutes by bike. But he still feels the effects, especially now.

A disturbing trend

In a May 20 news release, Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, called recent pedestrian and cyclist crashes in Colorado a “wake up call.”

Last year was the second-deadliest year on record for these groups with 134 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, which CSP officers refer to as “vulnerable road users.”

“It’s alarming, especially for a place that I thought was a cycling mecca of Boulder. It seems to be transforming. It doesn’t feel safe to ride your bike here,” Geffner said. “I don’t comprehend the sentiment towards cyclists. It doesn’t take too long to wait and pass a cyclist safely.”

Pete Piccolo, executive director of Bicycle Colorado, the nonprofit advocacy organization committed to improving cyclist safety, called the issue a “crisis.”

“I think the data tells us we have a significant problem on our hands,” he said.

Piccolo, like many cyclists, has been hit by a car while riding his bike. He was hit in Denver in 2016 and the driver took off.

Perhaps the most notable crash in recent years is that of Boulder cyclist Magnus White, who was on the United States national team.

The 17-year-old was hit and killed by a driver in 2023. His death led to community outcry and prompted the “Ride for Magnus: Ride For Your Life” in August 2024.

The memorial ride brought cyclists together to call for improved legislation in Colorado to protect vulnerable road users.

White’s death also prompted the creation of The White Line Foundation, which advocates for cyclist road safety.

“We’re horrified that this has happened again, and it continues to happen over and over,” said Jacqueline Claudia, executive director of The White Line.

Claudia has four children who are competitive cyclists, and a husband who coaches a Boulder mountain biking team.

“I get a knot in my throat every time I see a bike leave the garage because I don’t know if they are going to come back,” she said.

In early April, a Boulder County jury found Yeva Smilianska, 24, guilty of one count of reckless vehicular homicide for fatally hitting White. She told investigators she fell asleep at the wheel. 

Smilianska is scheduled to be sentenced June 14. The sentence she faces is two to six years in prison, plus mandatory parole for three years, and/or a fine of $2,000-$500,000, according to Colorado law.

White’s parents have been outspoken in their criticism of CSP’s investigation of the crash that killed their son.

Michael White, Magnus’s father, said that CSP protocols were not followed and Smilianska was never drug-tested.

Additionally, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said that following the crash he and his office were not properly notified.

Typically, in Boulder County, the DA’s office is alerted as soon as possible following a crash involving a fatality.

“We can be involved as prosecutors right from the first few hours, to make sure that law enforcement is conducting all the interviews, collecting all the evidence that we’re going to need and, of course, honoring the constitutional rights of the suspect,” Dougherty said in an interview with The Denver Gazette.

But at the time of White’s crash, Dougherty said, he found out about the news through social media and news posts instead of direct communication from the CSP.

Calls for change

Members of cycling communities across Colorado are calling for change. 

Dougherty’s office and the White family are advocating for more resources for the CSP.

“There are times where Colorado State Patrol and other agencies really need more resources and support to fully investigate these cases,” said Dougherty.

In the case of Wilkinson’s crash, the DA’s office was notified right away. Dougherty emphasized CSP’s “incredible, thorough work” from the start of the most recent investigation.

When responding to crashes, many CSP officers don’t have much time between collecting evidence and being back out on patrol.

“These agencies are under resourced,” said Claudia. “They’re literally going from crash, to crash to crash.”

“My dream scenario would be for CSP to have all the investigative resources they need to treat every traffic fatality as a homicide, because that’s really what it is,” said Dougherty.

Dougherty wants more done on the prevention side of crashes as well. Specifically, he wants to see “Careless Driving Resulting in Death” moved from a misdemeanor to a class 6 felony.

“I think the law should better reflect the loss of life and that decision the driver made that led them to take that person’s life,” he said.

In terms of penalties for recurring traffic violations, Dougherty also wants to see a stricter approach.

“We want people making a living, we want people to be licensed and insured on their way to work. But I think, at some point, there have to be more severe sanctions, including the forfeiture of a license,” he said.

Among many cyclists, infrastructure is a priority concern.

Johnson wants to see the proposed Boulder to Erie Regional Trail built. The trail would create a soft-surface regional trail, linking the City of Boulder and Erie.

“That is the only safe thoroughfare we would have, because anyone riding from Erie would have to take the stretcher road that John was hit on,” he said.

Geffner also wants to see improved paths for cyclists.

“A city that’s growing, the infrastructure has to evolve with it,” he said.

The White Line is proposing the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act, which “requires auto manufacturers to implement automatic emergency braking systems (AEB) that can detect cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users across all conditions,” according to its website.

It supported SB25-281, which was passed and currently awaits the governor’s signature. 

The bill “aims to change the charge of Careless Driving Resulting in Death from a class one misdemeanor to a class 6 felony and would require mandatory chemical testing if a person was driving carelessly and that those actions are the proximate cause of the death of another person.”

“At any point in any day, we’re all a vulnerable road user,” said Claudia. “This isn’t just about cyclists.”

Next steps

CSP is still investigating the Wilkinson case. Officials denied The Denver Gazette’s request for a copy of the crash report. 

“A lot of time and effort and analysis goes to the crash reconstruction by law enforcement,” Dougherty said. “That usually takes weeks.” 

As for the suspect who investigators believe was driving the Toyota Highlander, 23-year-old Dante Johnson was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on May 19 on an unrelated warrant. The Boulder DA’s office filed felony charges alleging Johnson failed to remain at the scene of a traffic crash involving injuries or death and failed to notify police about it.

Johnson has lost his license to drive several times in the past five years and has been arrested for numerous traffic offenses, according to court records.

On April 25, he pleaded guilty to driving under restraint and false reporting of an identification. Charges of expired plates and failure to provide insurance were dropped in a plea deal, court records show.

In 2023, he was arrested for driving under restraint and defective vehicle. A warrant was issued when he failed to appear in that case.

Dougherty anticipates that his office will have an update on charges in the next few weeks.

Johnson is next due in court July 2. He remains in custody on $100,000 bond, court records show. 

Dougherty acknowledged his commitment to improving safety for Boulder’s large cycling community.

“(Cycling) is part of what draws people to Colorado. It’s what brought my brother here. It’s how I ended up here. So, we need to make sure our roadways are safe for cyclists, runners, pedestrians and other drivers quite frankly,” he said.

A memorial ride honoring Wilkinson has been scheduled for 9 a.m. June 8 by Ride Broomfield.