On Monday, May 16, 2022, at 2:46 A.M., officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Stetson Hills Division were dispatched to the 3700 block of Carefree Circle North regarding a single vehicle traffic crash. Upon arrival, officers found that a vehicle traveling west on Carefree Circle North left the roadway, lost control, and rolled multiple times ejecting both the passenger and the driver. Both the passenger and the driver were treated on scene by members of AMR and the Colorado Springs Fire Department prior to being transported to local hospitals with serious life-threatening injuries. Due to the nature of the traffic crash, the CSPD Major Crash Team responded to the scene to assume the investigation.
The investigation found that the single vehicle was traveling west at an excessive rate of speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle and left the north side of the roadway, causing it to roll and flip. As a result, both the driver and the passenger were ejected from the vehicle. During the crash, a house in the area was damaged by flying debris. While on scene, detectives learned that both the driver and the passenger had passed away from injuries sustained during the crash.
On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the El Paso County Coroner’s office conducted autopsies of both the driver and the passenger. The driver has been identified as 29-year-old Jesus Ponce-Torres. The passenger has been identified as 41-year-old Patrick Mathew Lloyd. These two fatalities are the 15th and 16th traffic related fatalities this year. At this time last year, there were 14 traffic fatalities. Excessive speed and alcohol are being considered as factors in this investigation.