Rockies fan's act of kindness ends in tragic interstate collision
A selfless act on a Colorado highway turned devastating Saturday morning when Chris Serna, 30, of Thornton, was fatally struck while attempting to assist others after a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 in Adams County. Serna, a devoted Colorado Rockies fan, was riding in an Uber when tragedy struck, leaving his family and first responders grappling with a profound sense of loss.
The sequence of events: a chain reaction of disaster
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the incident began with a collision between a Chevrolet Trax and the Mitsubishi Serna was traveling in around 3:45 a.m. Serna, reportedly having celebrated the Rockies’ home opener the night before, exited the vehicle to offer assistance to those involved in the initial accident. It was then that a 2020 Mercedes, driven by a 27-year-old woman, rear-ended the Trax, tragically striking Serna, who was outside his vehicle. The Trax driver sustained serious injuries, while the Mercedes driver suffered minor ones. The driver of the Mitsubishi escaped unharmed.
“It just hurts that he texted my little brother, 'Open the door,' 10 minutes before this incident happened, and my brother’s no longer with us,” a visibly distraught Iris Cerna, Serna’s sister, told CBS Colorado. The heartbreaking message underscores the sudden and irreversible nature of the loss.
Beyond the game: a brother's loyalty and generosity
Those who knew Serna describe a man defined by his loyalty and generosity. Iris recalled her brother's unwavering passion for the Colorado Rockies, noting, “My brother was always the fanatic of going to Opening Day and celebrating. Every time you saw my brother, he was probably wearing a Rockies hat.” Beyond his enthusiasm for baseball, Iris emphasized his caring nature, stating, “My brother, you could tell him anything and be mad at him, and the next day he would come and ask you, 'Did you eat? Are you OK?'”
Highway safety: a stark reminder from first responders
The incident has reignited concerns about highway safety, especially during nighttime hours. Jason Kalahar, an Adams County firefighter/paramedic, expressed the emotional toll on first responders, noting, “We've had the same incident twice in less than a year's span, and it had unfortunate outcomes both times.” Kalahar cautioned against the impulse to assist after a crash, emphasizing that highways are inherently dangerous environments. “A person walking around on the highway is virtually invisible to everybody until you're right up on them,