This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
UPDATE 2:50 p.m. on 8/4/26
The Garfield County Coroner's Office has identified the deceased as Joshua Norton of Grand Junction.
The preliminary results of the coroner’s office investigation indicate the cause of death was blunt force chest injuries sustained in the crash, and the manner of death was an accident.
UPDATE at 10:20 a.m. on 8/4/26
According to initial reports from Colorado State Patrol, the blue Chevy Silverado was in a turn lane on Highway 82 westbound near mile marker 12 attempting to turn left while the Harley-Davidson was traveling eastbound.
The driver of the Chevy turned in front of the motorcyclist to enter a private driveway, and the Harley-Davidson collided with the right side of the Chevy, ejecting both passengers.
The 53-year-old male driving the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. The 56-year-old female passenger sustained serious bodily injury, and their status had not changed as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to Colorado State Patrol spokesperson Hunter Mathews. The driver of the Chevy did not sustain any injuries.
The traffic accident remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.
UPDATE at 5:40 p.m. on 8/2/26
Colorado State Patrol reports the motorcycle driver, a 53-year-old man from Grand Junction, died at the scene Sunday afternoon. A 56-year-old female from Grand Junction was also on the motorcycle and sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of the crash.
The state agency will provide more information on the circumstances of the accident later this week.
UPDATE at 5:20 p.m. on 8/2/26
According to a PitkinAlert, Highway 82 near mile marker 12 is now reopened in both directions.
UPDATE at 2:30 p.m. on 8/2/26
Colorado State Patrol reported at least one person died this afternoon due to a crash in the eastbound lanes of Highway 82 near Carbondale. Two other people were transported to local hospitals for further care following the accident.
According to CSP spokesperson Hunter Mathews, the crash occurred at 12:20 p.m. Sunday. Two vehicles were involved in the crash — a blue Chevy pick-up truck and a yellow Harley-Davidson.
The deceased was in the Harley and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second person riding in that vehicle also suffered life-threatening injuries. It's unclear at this time who was driving.
A 77-year-old male in the pick-up truck was also injured, and the extent of his injuries is unknown. He is a resident of Woody Creek.
Mathews said troopers were not releasing the identity of any of the people involved at this time. An investigation is still underway, and no details are being released yet as to the nature of the accident.
He expected the highway to reopen between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon after CSP's vehicular crimes unit can document all of the evidence.
ORIGINAL STORY:
According to an alert from Garfield County's dispatch center, Highway 82 is closed in both directions from mile markers 11.5 to 15.7 due to an accident.
Officials did not provide an estimated time of reopening as of 1:22 p.m.