Aurora, CO (September 12, 2025) – A devastating crash Thursday evening claimed the life of a woman and left her 1-year-old child critically injured after their SUV collided head-on with an RTD bus at the intersection of East 30th Avenue and Park Lane Drive in Aurora.
According to Sergeant Bill Hummel of the Aurora Police Department’s Traffic Unit, the woman was traveling at a high rate of speed after leaving a nearby family dispute. Officers had responded to the domestic incident moments earlier and had reportedly calmed the situation before the woman departed the area in her SUV.
Tragically, both the woman and the child—who was not restrained—were ejected from the SUV during the collision. Emergency crews rushed both victims to a local hospital. The woman later died from her injuries. The 1-year-old remains hospitalized and is currently listed in stable condition.
The bus driver and another passenger on board the RTD vehicle were also injured and transported for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The driver is reported to have sustained the more serious of the two injuries and is also in stable condition.
Authorities closed East 30th Avenue between Scranton and Ursula Streets while crash reconstruction teams worked at the scene. Investigators are considering both speed and possible intoxication as contributing factors in the fatal crash.
Our hearts go out to the family of the woman and her child, as well as to those injured in this heartbreaking incident.
RTD Bus Crashes and Passenger Vehicle Safety in Colorado
Collisions between public transit vehicles and passenger cars are relatively rare, but when they occur, the consequences are often severe due to the weight and size of buses. The head-on nature of Thursday’s crash in Aurora illustrates just how dangerous high-speed impacts can be—especially when passengers, including children, are not properly restrained.
Colorado law mandates that children under the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat unless they exceed height and weight limits. In this tragic case, the child was unrestrained and ejected from the SUV, significantly increasing the risk of fatal injuries. Situations like this highlight the critical importance of proper child safety restraint use on every trip, no matter how short.
While the exact circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, the involvement of a prior family dispute and reports of high speed raise concerns about emotional distress and impaired driving. Crashes following domestic incidents are not uncommon, and law enforcement agencies across the state are trained to recognize the potential for escalated risk after volatile encounters.
The RTD bus passengers in this incident were also affected, though their injuries were not life-threatening. Public transit operators in Colorado undergo extensive training to handle emergency scenarios, but they are not immune to harm in severe collisions.
For families impacted by incidents like this, the aftermath can be overwhelming—particularly when multiple generations are affected. Recovery may involve grief support, long-term medical care, and navigating legal complexities related to traffic investigations and potential liability.
If you or someone close to you has been hurt or lost in a collision involving a bus or other large vehicle, Local Accident Reports is here to connect you with the information and resources you need. We offer access to official crash reports, recovery guidance, and support tailored to your situation. Don’t face this process alone—reach out today for compassionate assistance.
