Overview:
As motorcycle crashes and deaths surge in Colorado, riders and families confront the lasting impact of impaired driving and safety laws.
On Nov. 8, 2025, Denver tattoo artist Francesco Sansovini, 22, drove his motorcycle after a night at the bar, unaware it would change his life forever. Moments later, he lost control near I-25 and Broadway and was thrown from his bike. Sansovini survived, but only because he was wearing a helmet.
“Both of my legs snapped, and I broke my femur,” Sansovini said. “I got my left leg amputated below the knee and had seven surgeries in three days. They tried to save my leg at first, but they couldn’t.”
His story reflects a broader and increasingly deadly pattern on Colorado roads, where motorcycle crashes, often involving alcohol, speed and lack of protective gear, have surged in recent years.
Motorcycle deaths in Colorado have risen 57% over the past decade, reaching a record high of 165 fatalities in 2024, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Although motorcycles make up just 3% of vehicles on the road, they account for nearly one-quarter of all traffic deaths statewide. Nearly half of the riders killed last year were not wearing a helmet.
Impairment remains a major contributor. Preliminary CDOT data show that 234 people died in crashes involving an impaired driver last year, representing 34% of all traffic fatalities and higher than the national average of 30%. In motorcycle crashes specifically, alcohol or drug impairment was a factor in one in five fatalities in 2024.
On his fourth day in the hospital, Sansovini regained consciousness, a moment that marked the beginning of a long and uncertain recovery. He says being healthy and physically active before the crash likely helped him survive injuries that often prove fatal and serves as a reminder of how narrow the margin can be for motorcyclists.
“Thankfully, I was in shape, and that helped a lot with my injuries not being worse, being able to handle them, and maneuver with my hands, like around the bed and stuff,” he said.
Becoming comfortable with his new life was not easy. However, Sansovini has maintained a positive outlook on life and now spends most of his time with the people he loves.
“I was going to go to Italy in December and get a place when I get back,” Sansovini said. “Now it’s kind of different. I’m just going to recover some more and spend my time with family. It’s been hard and painful. I’m just kind of looking forward to doing the things I used to do.”
Riding motorcycles is an activity that Sansovini valued for years. Despite his accident, his love for motorcycles has not changed, but his emphasis on motorcycle safety has.
“I’m really passionate about motorcycles, and I think it’s a really cool hobby,” Sansovini said. “I don’t want stuff like this to scare people from trying it. There are ways to do it safely. You know, get all the gear, make sure you have a good helmet, and learn how to ride properly. Practice your skills, and you can do it safely and still have a really good time.”
Helmet use remains one of the most significant factors in whether a rider survives a crash. Of the 165 motorcyclists killed in Colorado in 2024, 73, or 44%, were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. According to Richard Salas, retired lieutenant colonel for the Colorado State Patrol, the three most significant causes of traffic deaths are speed, distraction, and intoxication.
“There are about 30,000 traffic deaths a year related to alcohol, which include motorcycles,” Salas said.
As the number of motorcycle accidents has increased over the past few years, the Colorado State Patrol has been seeking ways to mitigate the problem.
“One of the things the patrol has done is more focused enforcement,” Salas said. “So we don’t just go out and write speeding tickets for the sake of writing speeding tickets. They look at certain sections of the highways that are problem areas and then focus the enforcement in those particular areas. So if you have an intersection where people are running red lights and we have a lot of accidents, they’re going to focus their enforcement efforts on those types of things. It’s more focused enforcement, and a lot of things they do are data-driven.”
Law enforcement agencies across the state are also increasing DUI patrols and sobriety checkpoints as part of CDOT’s year-round “The Heat Is On” campaign, which includes 15 high-visibility enforcement periods tied to holidays and major events.
While the police’s focused enforcement aims to prevent accidents in problem areas, accidents can also occur in neighborhoods. Heather Youngs, mother of two boys, lost her son to a fatal motorcycle crash in 2023.
“Ty was my firstborn son. My first child,” Youngs said. “He was not really scared of a lot. He was always adventurous and wanted to explore. He just wanted to be free. Ty loved everyone. Oh gosh, he was such a special soul.”
19-year-old Ty Bakata passed away in a neighborhood in Centennial, Colorado, while hanging out and riding with friends.
“They decided to, which they had done many times before, get on the motorcycle that they had in the garage and take a couple laps around the neighborhood,” Youngs said.
Bakata was driving too quickly, swerved to avoid a truck, and hit a parked car, resulting in the fatality. He was not wearing any safety gear. Once an individual turns 18, they can legally ride a motorcycle in Colorado without a helmet or an educational course.
“I think it’s foolish to not require somebody on a motorcycle to wear proper gear and a proper helmet,” Youngs said. “If Ty had been wearing a helmet, he probably would have survived the accident.”
In Colorado, a child can legally ride a motorcycle at 16 if they wear a helmet and complete a safety course. Once they reach the age of 18, those requirements are removed, which critics argue puts young riders at risk.
“When you’re young, you feel invincible, like nothing bad is ever going to happen to you,” Youngs said. “We’ve all been there, but there’s just not enough in place to keep our children safe. We’ve got babies riding motorcycles on big highways. If I could give any advice to another parent who has a child riding a motorcycle or wanting to, it’s just to make sure that you are implementing safety habits.”
For Youngs, who lost her son, and Sansovini, who lost his leg, motorcycle safety is not an abstract policy; it is the difference between life and death.
“There are no second chances,” Sansovini said, “and you have to acknowledge that.”
While individual awareness is necessary, addressing motorcycle fatalities as a broader approach involves “high visibility enforcement, road rate construction and education,” Salas said. While stricter enforcement is planned for 2026, understanding the difference between riding and riding safely begins before the engine starts, which is critical to preventing more motorcycle crashes.
“Education is a big thing. Make them aware of the laws. Also training,” Salas said. “Making sure people get motorcycle training before they get their license is really important.”
