A man killed on the Boulder turnpike Thursday when he was hit by an SUV jumped from an overpass onto the highway, police said.
“The victim was already lying on the ground, severely injured, when he was hit,” Boulder police said in a media release.
An abandoned bicycle and backpack were found at the top of a bridge, and witness accounts and footprints in the snow indicate that only one person was on the overpass, police said.
The coroner’s office identified the man as Transito “Tito” Eduardo Torres, 22, of Boulder.
The incident happened at about 8:20 p.m. on U.S. 36 at Table Mesa Drive.
Torres was a student at the University of Colorado, according to a media release from the school.
The university offered counseling services to classmates and teachers of Torres, a CU senior.
The night of the incident, people in the Mercury Mountaineer, including a child, were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and as a precautionary measure.
Westbound U.S. 36 was closed for several hours as investigators worked at the scene. The highway was reopened early this morning.
University officials urged members of its community to seek help if needed. Those who are interested should contact the office of counseling and psychological services at 303-492-6766 or online at -and-psychological-services.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
