Steamboat Springs — A 61-year-old Texas man died Saturday after the motorcycle he was driving hit a deer.

The crash occurred at about noon on Colorado Highway 131 near mile marker 61 between Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek. The highway was closed for nearly two hours after the crash, and traffic was rerouted onto Routt County Road 14.

The victim, John G. Hill, was a reserve police officer in Harris County, Texas.

Although the crash happened about 7 miles from Steamboat, Steamboat Springs Police Department Sgt. Scott Middleton responded and was the first officer to arrive. Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firefighters arrived at about the same time.

Middleton said that after hitting the deer, Hill was pinned in water under his motorcycle in a ditch on the side of the road.

According to a Colorado State Patrol press release, an unknown man lifted the motorcycle, and others pulled Hill from the water.

CPR was performed, and Hill was pronounced dead at 12:08 p.m. after being taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center.

Middleton said Hill’s wife was following him on a motorcycle she was driving. She was able to avoid the crash.

Middleton said Hill was an uncle of a Steamboat police officer. The man was visiting his nephew, whose wife recently had a baby.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland