Hearing-impaired man hit, killed during RTD R-Line testing in Aurora

AURORA, Colo. – A hearing-impaired man was hit and killed by a light rail during testing of the new R-Line, days before its official scheduled opening to the public.

The 35-year-old, who has not been identified, reportedly opened the gate and walked out right in front of the train at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, an Aurora Police Department spokesperson told Denver7.

The man did not look before crossing, an RTD spokesman said. 

All of the crossing and safety systems were working properly at the time of the crash, said Nate Currey with the Regional Transportation District.

An Aurora Police Department Spokesperson told Denver7, accidents like this are completely avoidable if pedestrians simply follow the warnings when a train is coming.

Those like Danny Martinez, who live in the area are concerned more accidents like this could happen because he sees people push through pedestrian gates all the time on other RTD routes.

"I do see on the A Line that does happen over there," said Martinez.

Currey said Aurora police is the lead agency working on the investigation into this fatal crash.

R-Line scheduled to begin operations Friday

RTD’s R-Line will begin operations this Friday, Feb. 24.

It will run from the Peoria Station in Aurora all the way to the Lincoln Station in Line Tree. Riders will be able to board at eight brand new stations across Aurora and travel all the way to Lone Tree to the south, DIA to the east, or downtown Denver and beyond to the east.

The R Line was supposed to open in December but was pushed back to a February opening date.