LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — Lakewood Police say a vehicle drifted into a bike lane, hitting a prominent cyclist over the weekend at Alameda Parkway and Indiana Street, killing her.
Gwen Inglis is a renown cyclist, and reigning road race champion with national and state titles to her name. The 46-year-old was riding her bicycle Sunday morning around 10 a.m., when a sedan swerved into her bike lane, according to police.
Police say Inglis was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries.
The driver has been identified as 29-year-old Ryan Montoya. He remained on scene and is being held in Jefferson County Jail, facing charges of Vehicular Homicide involving Driving Under the Influence or Driving Under the Influence of Drugs.
“She was the most humble, the most compassionate, she was the fiercest competitor that made you feel good about yourself,” said Megan Hottman, a lifelong friend of former teammate. “She’s always smiling, always had her arm around people. She was such a bright light.”
Inglis was in the peak of her cycling career. On Monday, friends putting roses and a cross where Inglis died told FOX31 she was riding with her husband on Sunday when she was struck, who wasn’t too far behind her. Inglis lived close to where the crash happened and probably rode that same area thousands of times before.
“When we were thinking about what stickers to make in her memory, the mantra that keeps coming up for me was, ‘Be like Gwen,'” said Hottman. “You never saw her complain, you never saw her speak badly about someone. She was always the force of good and right.”
Police said Monday Inglis and Montoya were both going east on Alameda when he drifted into the bike lane between Mcintyre and Indiana Street.
“We absolutely hope that the District Attorney charges the driver with anything that applies to this crime to the maximum sentence and doesn’t cut any deals here,” said Hottman.
Teammates of Inglis describe her as a “fearless and passionate teammate” and a positive, supportive and kind person.
She was the most humble, gracious and sweetest soul and magical spirit in this elitist and ego dominated sport,” said teammate Barry Lee. “She represented the pure joy and love of the bike and the sport that I so dearly cherish and appreciate. She was the calm and gentle champion with the inner strength grace and beauty I so respected and was always inspired by.”