Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.   The mountain’s highways were glutted with vehicles over the gorgeous weekend and many of them were motorcyclists out for a ride on the high country highways. Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2016, two people on a 2010 Harley Davidson were traveling south on Hwy. 119, near the intersection of Hwy. 72, when a 2016 Ford Explorer, northbound, driven by a 71-year-old Superior resident, swerved into the southbound lane.

In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the Harley driver hit his brakes and skidded, causing the bike to go down and the driver and passenger were thrown onto the highway. Neither of them were wearing helmets. The driver of the Ford turned around and stopped at the crash site.

The Timberline Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the scene as well as Nederland Police Department Officers, Gilpin County Ambulance, and the Colorado State Patrol. Traffic was closed both ways during the treatment of the patients.

The driver, a 57-year-old Arvada resident received a leg injury and was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital. The passenger, a 52 year-old Arvada resident, suffered a head injury and was air-lifted to St. Anthony’s.

Witnesses say that neither vehicle was going excessively fast, that the sudden swerve into the middle caused the motorcycle to crash. They say that both patients were unconscious for about four minutes.

State Patrol public information officer, Nathan Reid, said it is unknown at this time what charges, if any, will be issued against the SUV driver.