Man killed in rollover crash with on-duty police officer

One person was killed in a rollover crash with an on- duty Aurora police officer Saturday night, according to the police department.

The crash happened at about 8:20 p.m. at the intersection of Chambers Road and Bates Avenue, according to a police news release. The officer, who has not been publicly identified, was driving north on Chambers Road and responding to a call of a reported break-in at a home when another driver who was headed east on Bates Avenue pulled in front of the officer, said Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Troy Kessler.

The officer T-boned the other driver’s vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, striking the passenger side, Kessler said. The officer’s marked patrol vehicle then rolled and came to rest on its roof, trapping the officer inside.

The officer had been responded to the home break-in call without using his lights or sirens, Kessler said. The driver of the Toyota Corolla had a stop sign at the intersection, while the officer had the right of way on Chambers Road, Kessler said.

Investigators suspect the driver of Corolla was impaired by drugs or alcohol. The Corolla driver is also suspected of speeding when he “failed to yield” the right of way to the officer, Kessler said. The officer was not wearing his seat belt, Kessler said. The driver of the Corolla did have his seat belt on, he said.

The 25-year- old officer, who was hired in February 2022, was seriously injured but is expected to survive. The 44-year- old Toyota Corolla driver died after he was taken to a hospital. Neither have been publicly identified.

In addition to the Colorado State Patrol investigation, the Aurora police department will also conduct an internal affairs investigation.