Alleged road rage incidents in El Paso County part of rising trend across the state

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- An alleged road rage death on I-25 is still under investigation, as Colorado State Patrol said it received an increase in aggressive driving or road rage calls across the state this year.

The Colorado State Patrol said so far this year it has received 27,000 calls for aggressive driving or road rage incidents. The agency projects 2023 totals to be a 2% increase from last year. CSP data shows a rising trend, as 2022 exceeded 2021 totals by 4.5%. The agency blames the impatience of today’s society.

“Everybody wants to get somewhere quick and traffic congestion will hamper that,” said Gabriel Moltrer, a Colorado State Patrol Trooper. “People having that impatience, it just causes the tempers to start to flare.”

“We have had a few cases in the past this year where they've pulled over and gotten into physical altercations on the side of the road,” he said.

One of these altercations happened earlier this month on the side of Interstate 25.

On Oct. 11, the El Paso County Communications Center received reports of a "physical altercation" between two people on the northbound side of I-25 at mile marker 133; this was just north of the Mesa Ridge Parkway/Highway 16 exit and south of the South Academy Boulevard exit.

According to the Fountain Police Department, law enforcement and medical personnel responded to the scene and found a man lying on the side of the interstate who wasn't conscious or breathing; the FPD said that life-saving measures were performed, but the man ultimately died.

On Oct. 12, the El Paso County Coroner identified the man as 57-year-old Cecil Freeman, of Pueblo West. According to his wife of 13 years, Tami Freeman, he was a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor, then retired as a lieutenant at the Florence Correctional Complex, a federal prison, after 23 years of service. She believes the incident was road rage.

“I get angry in a car but don't get out of your car,” she said. “I don't know, it's not good."

13 Investigates reached out to the Fountain Police Department about the case to ask if a suspect has been identified or if there have been any arrests. The department never responded to our multiple requests.

The Colorado State Patrol said it’s on drivers to decrease the rising road rage numbers across the state.

“Drive more defensively on the road, make sure that you have plenty of room to get over into the next lane,” Moltrer said. “Practice good manners, letting other people go once they have their turn signal on and giving them that room as well.”

CSP said if you witness or are a victim of road rage call *277 and give the dispatcher the location of the car and any identifying information, like make, model, color, or license plate. The agency can then use this information to pull the car over and possibly issue a citation.

Do you have a tip you want 13 investigates to look into? Email us at 13investigates@krdo.com