A serious tragedy was narrowly averted Monday afternoon in Grand County when several motorcycles were involved in an accident on U.S. Highway 34 at milepost 6 next to Lake Granby just north of the turn to Arapaho Bay.

The incident occurred when a white Jeep Cherokee pulled onto the highway to begin traveling west from a scenic overlook. Trooper Nate Reid, public information officer for the Colorado State Patrol, explained that as the Jeep pulled onto the highway a motorcycle headed east struck the Jeep. The driver of that motorcycle was ejected yet sustained no injuries.

Two other motorcycle riders were also involved in the crash. One sustained minor injuries and was transported to Middle Park Medical Center – Granby. The third motorcycle driver involved in the accident laid down his bike and was uninjured. The driver of the Jeep was uninjured as well.

Charges are pending against the driver of the Jeep.

The incident occurred around noon on Monday, June 15. As of Tuesday afternoon the names of individuals involved in the incident were not available. The three motorcycle riders were part of a group of five German tourists traveling through Grand County on motorcycles.

The roads in Grand County have become very busy over the last few weeks as the summer season and warmer temperatures have brought tourists to the high country in droves. Incidents like the one on Monday provide a non-tragic reminder for drivers to be extra vigilant over the coming months.

Lt. Dan Mayer, public information officer for the Grand County Sheriff’s Department, pointed out that the section of Highway 34 that runs along the shore of Lake Granby can be particularly dangerous.

“It is a very curvy road,” said Mayer. “We had several other crashes there during the winter.”

Mayer discussed a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred in September last year. That crash involved Granby resident Jonathan Mathern who died following a single vehicle incident just a few short miles north of where Monday’s incident occurred.

“It scares me when people stop to look at stuff on the side of the road,” Lt. Mayer said. “Oftentimes they aren’t looking very good when they pull back out.”

The stretch of Highway 34 near Lake Granby is also the area where Grand County Sheriff’s Deputy Alycia Riggs was killed in a fatal accident in early February. Riggs was driving a pickup truck at the time. Her fatal accident occurred slightly south of where Monday’s incident occurred.

Overall Mayer said he felt Grand County has been lucky with regards to the number of fatal motorcycle accidents that occur here, especially in consideration of how many motorcycle riders frequent the highways during the summer. Mayer explained the roads in Grand County are additionally dangerous for motorcycle riders early in the summer when they are still covered in sand and gravel from winter plowing operations.