In the early morning on Friday, Sept. 27, a driver traveling northbound on Broadway struck and killed a woman near the crosswalk at Rayleigh Road in South Boulder. Officers received the call at 4:58 a.m., and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Jennifer Newman. She was 38.
The Boulder Police Department said there were no initial indications that speed or impairment was a factor in the crash. The crash is under investigation.
Additional circumstances of the crash remain unclear. It occurred near a crosswalk that spans six lanes of traffic. The speed limit on this stretch of Broadway is 40 mph.
This marks the fourth fatal crash on city streets this year, according to city crash data. Three of these crashes involved pedestrians, highlighting the disproportionate risks they face.
On Jan. 3, 2024, Virginia Knowlton, 90, was crossing Alpine Ave. near the Ideal Market and Community Plaza when a driver heading southbound Broadway turned left into the shopping center and struck her, according to city officials. Knowlton died in the hospital. The case remains under investigation.
On May 13, a 2-year-old girl was hit by the driver of a pickup truck while crossing a parking lot at 770 29th Street with her father, according to city officials. The child died in the hospital. The case is under investigation.
More recently, on Sept. 16, Juliane Herlihy, 36, was cycling southbound on U.S. 36 when the driver of a pickup truck struck her with a passenger side mirror, according to the Colorado State Patrol. She then crashed and the driver ran over her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash, which is still under investigation, occurred at mile marker 32 on U.S. 36, less than a mile from the Boulder city limits.
The City of Boulder’s Vision Zero Action Plan aims to eliminate fatal and serious injury traffic crashes by 2030. So far this year, there have been at least 22 serious or fatal crashes on city streets, with more than half — 12 — involving a cyclist or pedestrian.
Update: This story was updated on Sept. 30 with the name of the woman who died in the crash.
There was a time that a DUI/ driving under the influence, especially where any injury to another was involved, was taken very seriously and included either some serious prison time or the defendant making arrangements for rehab with the available recovery facilities located out of Boulder. Now the police simply ticket those found under the influence while driving. There was also a time that driving under the influence with injury to another was considered a crime of violence. MADD (mothers against drunk drivers) worked hard on this issue but like all other violent crime these days in Boulder the consequences today are minimal.
Given the high rates of addiction in this city, along with the increasing anger and rage of many drivers, vision zero isn’t going to affect hit and runs or those driving while under the influence. Tragic accidents under these circumstances and involving the death of another will only continue to increase until our laws change to reflect the serious nature of any violent crime, including driving under the influence.
How do you know the cause?
I live in the neighborhood and walk a lot I can assure you that on broadway from Dartmouth to 27th traffic is moving at an alarming speed. Perhaps a radar speed trap would calm traffic down and add to the city’s general fund. Traffic was routed onto a frontage road and automobiles acted like they suddenly owned the road, streaming down the middle of the street and refusing to yield.
Not a pretty day in Boulder. Again.
David do you know the circumstances?
There is zero police presence or traffic patrols in Boulder, every driver knows they can drive 60 on Broadway without consequences. It’s not like the police are busy, they are understaffed and working street crime, homelessness, and investigative duties (there is an unsolved murder form the summer). Traffic has zero priority, which means we end up with as many traffic deaths as murders.
Must be time to road diet Broadway. Two lanes and lots of bollards will solve this, right?
I’m new to the area, so forgive me for not knowing yet how things work, but why is a traffic death from Jan. ‘24 still under investigation? Is it purely lack of police resources?
This is so tragic. I didn’t know about the 2-year old. I am a bus/pedestrian commuter. And I practice defensive walking. I never walk in front of a vehicle until it has stopped and I’ve made some semblance of eye contact. Right of way doesn’t matter.
I remove earbuds & pocket my phone when crossing any intersection
Look at people in their cars. Most are texting or looking at their phones.
I appreciate Shelly’s comment about DUI. And really, distracted driving is the bigger issue.
Tracy, the problem is the black reflective glass you can’t see through that should be illegal.