Thornton man dies in crash on I-25 near Dacono

Staff Reports
April 20, 2008

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A 33-year-old Thornton man was killed Saturday morning on northbound Interstate 25 near the Dacono exit after he lost control of the homemade motorcycle he was driving, according to a Colorado State Patrol release.

Russell McDowell died when he lost control of his motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet, but was wearing a knit stocking cap. Witnesses told police McDowell lost control of the motorcycle when he reached up to keep the cap on his head as it began to blow off.

The crash occurred at 11:10 a.m. as the 1999 homemade motorcycle, which was northbound on I-25, ran off the left side of the road and into the median. McDowell was ejected from the motorcycle and both he and the vehicle crashed into the cable barrier in the center of the median, according to the release.

McDowell, who was the only person on the motorcycle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is still under investigation, but police do not suspect alcohol or drugs, the release stated.

The man is the 13th person killed on Weld County roads in 2008. At this time last year, there had been 15 deaths on Weld roads.