Reese Allen and Kyle McKinney Obituary, Death – Two Young Colorado Residents Killed in Fatal I-70 Crash Near Rifle
Reese Allen, 18, of Silt, Colorado, and Kyle McKinney, 17, of Glenwood Springs, died in a fatal head-on collision on Interstate 70 near Rifle early Sunday morning, September 13, 2026.
The deaths, which were initially circulating online without independent confirmation, have now been confirmed by the Garfield County Coroner’s Office. Officials identified Allen and McKinney as the two people killed in the crash near mile marker 93.3.
What Happened on I-70
According to the Garfield County Coroner’s Office, investigators were dispatched at approximately 2:57 a.m. Sunday following reports of a motor vehicle crash involving two fatalities on I-70 near Rifle.
Both Allen and McKinney were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed that the two teenagers were driving separate vehicles involved in the collision.
Earlier reports circulating online described the incident as a wrong-way collision and provided additional details about the vehicles and circumstances of the crash. Those details should be treated separately from the information officially confirmed by authorities.
The Colorado State Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Preliminary Cause of Death
The Garfield County Coroner’s Office said autopsies were completed on September 14. Both examinations revealed blunt-force injuries.
Based on the autopsy findings, the preliminary cause of death for both Allen and McKinney was determined to be blunt-force injuries, while the preliminary manner of death was classified as an accident. The coroner’s investigation remains ongoing.
Remembering Reese Allen and Kyle McKinney
The deaths of the two young Colorado residents have brought grief to their families, friends and communities in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Allen, 18, was from Silt, while McKinney, 17, was from Glenwood Springs. Their young ages have added to the shock surrounding the fatal collision.
As authorities continue investigating what led to the crash, family members, friends and community members are left mourning two lives lost in a sudden roadway tragedy.
Funeral and memorial arrangements were not included in the Garfield County Coroner’s announcement and may be released separately by the families.
The Garfield County Coroner’s Office extended condolences to the families and friends of both Reese Allen and Kyle McKinney as the community continues to process their deaths.
