A Turkish student visiting the United States for a summer work and travel program was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bicycle in northwest Denver on Monday evening.
The victim, 21-year-old Salih Koc, was studying Aerospace Engineering at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Türkiye.
He was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Tejon Street and West 38th Avenue around 8 p.m. local time and died at the scene.
Denver Police later confirmed the arrest of 28-year-old Jonathan Jarabek in connection with the crash.
He faces charges for leaving the scene after causing a fatal collision.
Koc had come to the U.S. to improve his English and gain work experience over the summer.
Known for his academic achievements, he had placed in the top 1 percent of Türkiye’s national high school exam and performed well in the country’s competitive university entrance exams.
His goal was to gain practical knowledge abroad while supporting himself financially.
The fatal incident has brought renewed public attention to road safety in the area.
In 2021, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) proposed a protected bike lane on Tejon Street, where the accident occurred. However, the project was never built and remains delayed without a confirmed completion date.
Following the crash, local residents and cycling advocates have raised concerns about the lack of safe infrastructure for cyclists, especially in busy corridors like Tejon Street.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities reviewing further details of the incident.