<\/p>\n
More than 48 hours after a fatal crash, the<\/p>\n
No citations have been issued.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the family of the motorcyclist remembered their loved one as an energetic father, husband and entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
Tim Cooper, 52, of La Plata County died Monday after being struck from behind by a woman driving a Toyota SUV traveling south on Colorado Highway 3, near the Walmart intersection. The motorcycle was pushed into an F-150 Ford pickup also stopped at the light. The motorcycle burst into flames upon impact.<\/p>\n
Michele Northcutt, 51, of Durango was driving the SUV.<\/p>\n
Cooper was the owner of Coopers Construction Co., which has been in business for 21 years in Durango.<\/p>\n
His family referred to him as \u201cSuper Cooper\u201d for his zest for life and boundless energy for work and play, including motocross, fishing and hunting.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody says if they could grow up to be half the man he was, they\u2019d be happy,\u201d said his son, Wyatt Cooper, 21, in an interview Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was always about his family.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was always friendly and willing to help out anyone, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d have a 5-minute conversation with him, and he was your best friend,\u201d Wyatt Cooper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just hope everyone really knows he loved every one of his friends, and he would have done anything for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim Cooper was born in Denver and grew up in California. In his heart, he always knew he would return to Colorado, and 26 years ago, he was the first in his family to make the move, said his sister, Vicki Taylor.<\/p>\n
In addition to his son and sister, he is survived by his wife of 33 years, Paula Cooper, and parents, Mitch and Carole Cooper, also of Durango.<\/p>\n
Services are planned for 2 p.m. June 18 at Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction St.<\/p>\n
Vicki Taylor described him as the life of the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe loved people. He always had stories to tell. He made people laugh,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he knew somebody came into town, he would go over to their house and welcome them.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wants to know why a driver slammed into her brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe family is pleading with anybody who went by Highway 3 when it happened to please come forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n