A local cyclist, Ernest (Joe) Green, 62, of Dolores, was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle on East Main Street in Cortez on May 2, according to a Cortez Police Department report.
The driver, Miguel Martinez, 29, was cited for careless driving causing bodily injury and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
The crash occurred about 5:30 p.m. in the 2500 block of East Main Street. Green reportedly suffered a broken collarbone, ribs, leg, back and a traumatic brain injury. He was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction for treatment.
According to the police report, Martinez was driving westbound and merging into a turn lane to head north on Colorado 145 when he struck Green. Martinez told police he did not see Green before merging and was unable to slow down in time. The impact caused significant damage to the vehicle’s windshield and hood, and Green’s road bicycle was broken in multiple places, and Green’s personal items were scattered across the road.
According to the police report, Martinez told police that he had drank a beer about 30 minutes before the crash, but passed voluntary roadside sobriety tests. The vehicle driven by Martinez, which was registered to his father, was uninsured.
A small container labeled “cannabis” was found in Green’s cycling shorts.
Green and his wife, Karen Hughes, are longtime Cortez residents and are members of the Southwest Cycling Association.
An email to The Journal from Jennifer Jardine, who created a GoFundMe for Green, urged drivers to remain vigilant and prioritize the safety of cyclists and pedestrians on the road.
“Joe is in for a long road to recovery,” Jardine said. “Joe Green and Karen Hughes have been members of the community for many years. They are both avid cyclists and have volunteered their time for trail maintenance with SW Cycling Association.”
Martinez is scheduled for pretrial conference on July 15 at 10 a.m. in Montezuma County Court.
