Pedestrian deaths involving vehicles have risen 88% in Colorado since 2015, with pedestrian fatalities in El Paso County spiking at an even higher level — 167%, according to state officials.

The “alarming rise” in deaths prompted the Colorado Department of Transportation to host a safety meeting Thursday night at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.

In collaboration with the nonprofit organization Bicycle Colorado and local safety advocates, the meeting displayed “vital pedestrian safety messaging” alongside speakers discussing road safety.

Among the speakers was state Rep. Amy Paschal, a Democrat from District 18 that covers western El Paso County and parts of Colorado Springs. Paschal was seriously injured in a crash while walking with her husband in Monument in 2014.

“It’s so easy to get distracted, and just one little distraction could cause an accident that could end somebody’s life or change their life forever,” Paschal said. “So we all need to be more aware. We all need to be more careful. So I hope you join me in helping to educate yourself and others. Just be safer on the streets.”

Last year, three counties accounted for almost half of all auto-pedestrian deaths in Colorado: El Paso (16), Denver (18) and Adams counties (22), according to numbers from the state.

“CDOT is launching this display to remind Coloradans how they can protect our most vulnerable road users. The agency and its partners aim to promote safer behaviors on Colorado roads by highlighting alarming fatality trends,” the department said in a news release.