Bike vs. SUV crash seriously injures man in Fort Collins

A cyclist remained in critical condition late Thursday after an SUV smashed into him while he rode in the bike lane through an intersection along Mountain Avenue earlier in the day.

Jacob Gross, 31, of Fort Collins was riding his black Trek bicycle eastbound along Mountain Avenue around 10:40 a.m, authorities said. As the man rode across Shields Street, a northbound blue Suzuki SUV driven by a 17-year-old girl ran through a red light and slammed into him, throwing him onto the windshield.

The SUV traveled approximately 40 feet from the time it hit the man to the time it came to a stop. The impact completely smashed the windshield, mangled the bike and left bloodstains on the concrete. The cyclist was wearing a helmet and appeared to be obeying all traffic laws, Fort Collins Police Services Sgt. Joel Tower said at the scene.

Gross was treated and transported to Medical Center of the Rockies with serious injuries, and he remained in critical condition Thursday evening.

None of the five occupants in the SUV was injured, and they declined to comment at the scene. Police do not believe excessive speed or alcohol were involved in the crash, and they are continuing to look into whether distraction was a contributing factor. Charges are pending as the investigation is ongoing.

Both directions of Mountain were closed at Shields, and northbound lanes of Shields were closed in the area for approximately four hours while investigators gathered evidence and pieced together the scene. Roads were reopened at around 3 p.m.

Anyone with information about the crash who has not already given a statement to police is asked to contact Officer Drew Jurkofsky at (970) 221-6555.

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Reporter Jason Pohl covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter: @pohl_jason.