Kristyn Wade, a Golden, Colorado USA resident, gravel racer, and prominent figure in the grassroots cycling community, remains in hospital after being struck by an alleged drunk driver on Tuesday 25 March 2026.
Wade, 35, was commuting to work by bicycle at around 8:10 a.m. when she was hit at the intersection of Johnson Road and U.S. Highway 6. RTD station video showed that a departing train had triggered the railroad crossing lights, and six vehicles had come to a stop at the red signal. Two seconds later, Ian Athas, 35, of Lakewood, entered the intersection and struck Wade, who was riding in the crosswalk with her boyfriend.
The forensic picture is damning. Officers tested the railroad crossing timing sequence and calculated the light had been red for approximately seven seconds before impact. A witness driving directly behind Athas told investigators that, despite the sun washing out the signal, he could clearly see it was red from 25 to 30 yards out. His dashcam footage confirmed Athas entered the intersection on a clear red light and did not brake until just before the collision.
Speaking to officers after the crash, Athas said he had been drinking until around 2 a.m. — some six hours earlier — and acknowledged consuming more than half a pint of vodka. Officers observed unsteady movement and slurred speech. Athas attributed both to 12 hockey-related concussions sustained the previous year.
The impact was devastating. Wade’s aunt and GoFundMe organiser Pam Hatcher states the driver was travelling at 50 mph, although police have not confirmed this figure. Wade sustained a severe traumatic brain injury with a Grade 2 Diffuse Axonal Injury. She was placed in an induced coma due to brain swelling and has undergone two surgeries — one to fuse her C1 and C3 vertebrae after damage to her C2, and a second to repair a broken ankle and clean leg wounds. On Tuesday 08 April, the family confirmed Wade had been transferred from St Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood to CRAIG Rehabilitation Hospital in Englewood. Recovery is expected to take a minimum of two years.
Athas faces charges of DUI, vehicular assault DUI, failing to stop at a red light, and driving without insurance. Formal charges are pending toxicology results.
A racer at Unbound Gravel and SBT GRVL in 2023, Wade is equally known off the bike for founding FWOD Denver, Denver Bike Gang, and Red Tent Gravel. As of Wednesday 22 April, her GoFundMe had raised $63,340 from 794 donors toward a $70,000 target.
Photo Credit: Pam Hatcher
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