Beloved cyclist killed in hit-and-run in CO, reports say. ‘Miss you forever'

Miami Herald

22-05-2025

A 41-year-old cyclist with a 'vibrant spirit' was killed in a hit-and-run in Colorado, officials and loved ones said.
The cyclist was riding in Boulder County just before noon on May 18 when he was struck by a Toyota Highlander, the Colorado State Patrol said in a news release. The county coroner's office identified the cyclist as John Wilkinson.
The Toyota Highlander drove off but was found later that day abandoned in a park, troopers said.
A 23-year-old man has been charged with failing to notify police of an accident and failing to remain at the scene/give information and/or aid after an accident, according to state troopers, who said more charges are expected.
McClatchy News couldn't immediately reach an attorney for the 23-year-old on May 22.
In the news release, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said, 'Throughout Colorado, there are far too many cyclists and pedestrians who are tragically injured or killed every year,' adding that 'these cases are a priority in this jurisdiction.'
Wilkinson was remembered in news reports and on social media for his passion and dedication.
He was 'a cycling machine,' his dad, Bob Wilkinson, told CBS News Colorado, adding that 'he rode hundreds and hundreds of miles a week.'
And beyond cycling, 'He just was, he was just a good kid overall. It's a terrible loss to us,' his dad said, according to the outlet.
The Colorado bike shop CyclErie — where Wilkinson worked, according to the Daily Camera — wrote on Instagram that 'the loss of John's vibrant spirit is heartbreaking, infuriating, and utterly avoidable.'
The shop went on to say, 'There's no silver lining — only grief for a friend who won't join us at work, a brother who won't call back, and a loving partner who won't return from his Sunday ride,' adding that 'we'll miss you forever.'