(April 28) On Wednesday, April 28th, 2021, at about 12:50 p.m., Aurora Police Officers responded to a vehicle crash involving an RTD Train on North Chambers Road at Smith Road.
Initial investigation reveals that a sedan was traveling westbound on Smith Road and turned to go northbound on North Chambers Road. Preliminary information obtained by investigators confirms that the driver disregarded the lowered level crossing signals as the train approached. The sedan then made contact with an RTD A-Line Commuter Rail Train traveling eastbound on the tracks. The sole occupant of the vehicle, an adult male, was transported to an area hospital where he remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. There were 43 people traveling on the RTD train, two of them were evaluated by medical personal but not transported to the hospital. The driver of the vehicle is an adult male in his 30's. His identification will not be released at this time. It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were aggravating factors relating to this crash.
Traffic Unit Investigators will continue to investigate and attempt to reconstruct the scene to calculate speeds and other contributing factors. Part of the investigation will include working closely with RTD to obtain and review surveillance camera footage from the intersection to determine if the level crossing signals and lights/audible bell were functioning properly.
We are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash, has dashcam footage, or if you have any information about this incident, please contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095
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