Cooke was traveling west on U.S. Highway 160 toward Cortez when a deer darted in front of her near Hesperus, said Capt. Adrian Driscoll, with the Colorado State Patrol.
Cooke, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene, he said.
Cooke lived in Cortez before moving to South Dakota. and just recently moved back to Cortez, Driscoll said.
She was driving a 2013 Harley-Davidson registered out of South Dakota.
The crash occurred about 8:30 p.m. at mile post 72.9, just east of the intersection with La Plata Highway (Colorado Highway 140).
Highway 160 remained opened, although westbound traffic was diverted to one of the eastbound lanes.
shane@durangoherald.com
