A tragic sequence of events in Colorado has left a community grieving and reignited debate about road safety after a husband and wife were both killed at the same intersection less than two years apart.
Gerry Goldberg, 82, and his wife Andreia “Andie” Goldberg, 59, lived for decades in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. The couple were known for their active lifestyles and deep connection to the neighborhood they called home. But the intersection near their house — East Belleview Avenue and South Franklin Street — ultimately became the site of two devastating tragedies for their family.
First, Andie Goldberg was killed while out running in May 2024 after being struck by a vehicle. Nearly two years later, on March 2, 2026, Gerry Goldberg himself died in a two-vehicle crash at the same intersection while continuing his fight to improve safety there.
The heartbreaking story has sparked calls for urgent action, with supporters arguing that delays in installing a traffic light may have contributed to a preventable loss of life.
The moment that changed everything
According to family members, the couple had long been cautious about road safety. They knew the neighborhood streets well and understood where they needed to stay alert for drivers.
On the day of the 2024 accident, Gerry returned home from a bicycle ride and expected his wife to return from her run shortly after. When she didn’t arrive, concern quickly grew. Gerry checked her phone’s location through a tracking app and saw that her location dot had stopped moving at a nearby intersection.
His nephew Aaron Svoboda later recalled the devastating moment. Gerry walked toward the intersection to check what had happened.
“He saw that her dot didn’t move,” Svoboda said. What he discovered when he arrived at the scene was, in Svoboda’s words, “heartbreaking.” Andie had been fatally struck by a vehicle.
A quiet man becomes a safety advocate
Friends and family describe Gerry Goldberg as a thoughtful and private person who rarely sought attention. But the loss of his wife pushed him to step outside his comfort zone and campaign for safety improvements at the intersection where she died.
He began attending town council meetings in both Cherry Hills Village and neighboring Greenwood Village, which jointly share jurisdiction over the intersection.
Goldberg also spoke with local television stations, created a website, and launched a petition advocating for a traffic signal at the crossing. Supporters called the effort “Andie’s Light,” hoping the installation of a stoplight would prevent future tragedies.
Svoboda said the public campaign was unusual for his uncle, but it showed how strongly he believed in the cause.
“It was against his nature,” Svoboda said, “but it was important to him that nobody else go through what he had experienced.”
The complicated challenge of fixing the intersection
The intersection where both deaths occurred presents unique challenges because it lies between two municipalities. Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village must both agree before major changes — such as installing a traffic signal — can move forward.
Belleview Avenue is a busy four-lane roadway with two lanes in each direction. Franklin Street, which intersects it, is a smaller two-lane residential street. The combination of fast-moving traffic and cross traffic has long been viewed by some residents as dangerous.
Jerry Presley, a longtime friend of Gerry Goldberg and a former Greenwood Village council member, helped Goldberg navigate the bureaucratic process needed to push for change.
Presley said the pair worked to convince both towns to conduct a formal traffic study. The study ultimately found that the intersection met the state’s criteria for installing a traffic signal.
However, that finding did not immediately lead to construction.
“But do we want a light?” Presley said, describing the question still facing local leaders.
Community support and opposition
The push for “Andie’s Light” gained public attention and gathered hundreds of supporters. A petition connected to the campaign has collected more than 430 signatures from residents who believe a traffic light could significantly improve safety.
But the proposal has also faced resistance from some community members.
Opponents worry that installing a traffic signal could divert more vehicles through smaller neighborhood streets, potentially creating new safety concerns in residential areas. Others have argued that increased traffic control could change the quiet character of the neighborhood.
Presley acknowledged that the issue has divided residents.
“They use words like ‘charm’ and ‘character’ to describe the neighborhood,” Presley said. “But we believe safety trumps charm.”
A second tragedy strikes
On March 2, 2026, tragedy struck again.
Gerry Goldberg, who had spent months advocating for safety improvements at the intersection where his wife died, was himself killed in a two-vehicle crash at the same location. Local television station Denver7 reported that no citations were issued following the collision.
The news shocked family members who struggled to believe that such a devastating coincidence could occur.
Svoboda said the moment he heard the news from Andie’s niece felt almost impossible to comprehend.
“It was surreal on top of surreal,” he said.
Remembering Gerry and Andie Goldberg
Family and friends remember Andie Goldberg as someone who loved the outdoors and embraced life with enthusiasm. She enjoyed running, hiking, skiing, cycling, and spending time with animals.
Her obituary described her as having “a zest for life, a heart of gold, and a positive energy that inspired those around her.”
Gerry Goldberg had worked for many years painting signs at his family’s sign shop before later selling the business and becoming a real estate investor. Those close to him described him as thoughtful, deliberate, and a natural leader.
At his memorial service, an old military friend captured his character in a simple observation.
Looking around at the people gathered, the friend said each person probably believed Gerry had been their best friend — and in many ways, that was true.
“Whenever you were with him, you felt special,” Svoboda said.
The push for change continues
Following Gerry Goldberg’s death, local officials said they were reviewing safety options and increasing police patrols in the area to encourage safer driving behavior. Cherry Hills Village officials also said a new traffic study would be conducted on an expedited basis in cooperation with Greenwood Village.
Presley and other supporters believe the community cannot afford further delays.
“The cost of delaying,” he said, “as Gerry’s death shows, is unacceptable.”
Now, many residents hope the heartbreaking story of the Goldbergs will lead to action — ensuring that the intersection where they lost their lives becomes safer for everyone who travels through it.
Source: USA Today – Colorado intersection has been plagued by surreal traffic deaths
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