THURSDAY, October 22, 2026|
Photo – Still image of child riding scooter into traffic – Courtesy CCSO
After Raiden Sanchez’s death in August, a Carbon County Fire Protection District firefighter stepped in to create a bicycle‑safety course for Rawlins students.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Hanna, Fire Protection District Chief John Rutherford said Sanchez’s death led firefighter Thomas McWaters to question who is responsible for teaching kids to ride their bicycles safely and responsibly.
Chief Rutherford said that historically, law enforcement and schools collaborated on a bicycle‑safety course but added that he no longer believes the program is being offered. As a result, he said firefighter McWaters put together a new bicycle‑safety course that Rawlins schools have successfully adopted.
On Tuesday morning, Sheriff Alex Bakken posted dashcam video from one of his deputies’ patrol vehicles showing a Rawlins child ride an electric scooter into the street without looking. Thankfully, the deputy stopped in time to avoid hitting the child. Sheriff Bakken wrote, “If our deputy hadn’t been driving attentively, this event could have had a tragic outcome.”
At Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, Fire Protection District Chief John Rutherford said the Sheriff’s post further emphasizes the need for bicycle‑safety training.
Commissioner John Johnson asked if firefighter McWaters intends to expand his bicycle‑safety course outside of Rawlins. Chief Rutherford said that is a possibility.
Chief Rutherford stressed that firefighter Thomas McWaters is entirely to credit for the new bicycle‑safety course, and the Board of Commissioners thanked him for his efforts.
