Colo. teen skateboarder killed after hanging on to Jeep

ARVADA, Colorado — Police continued to investigate today an accident that killed a teen skateboarder over the weekend near Oak Park.

The victim, Austin Ayers, 17, died Sunday at St. Anthony's Central Hospital after he was hit earlier in the afternoon by a Jeep Wrangler that had been pulling him seconds before on the 6500 block of Oak Street, Arvada police said.

The driver of the Jeep Wrangler was only identified as a 34-year-old man, and his name was being withheld until the investigation into the accident is finished, Susan Medina, police spokeswoman, said.

However, Medina said the victim and the motorist were not related and did not know each other, and detectives were trying to figure out why and how the teenager hung on to the passenger's side front door or window while he was being pulled by the Jeep.

The victim was riding on a long skateboard in the southbound bicycle lane on Oak Street, which is a well-traveled road for skateboarders, bicyclists and motorists, Medina said. At some point, the teenager held on to the Jeep's passenger's side door or window. After the victim let go of the Jeep he was struck by the vehicle, hurling the teenager to the pavement and causing his fatal injuries.

The speed limit is 30 mph, and detectives also were trying to figure out how fast the driver was traveling, Medina said.