Fatal traffic accident victim identified

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Earlier this week, on Tuesday, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to a serious traffic accident.

Officers on the scene found a tow truck with a car on its deck had crashed into an SUV that was trying to cross E. Pikes Peak Ave. During the crash, the tow truck struck the SUV in the driver’s side door and pushed the SUV east of the intersection before stopping.

Both people were transported to the hospital with serious life-threatening injuries, according to CSPD.

CSPD says that due to the nature of the crash the Major Crash Team was contacted and responded to the scene to assume the investigation.  While continuing the investigation detectives were informed that the driver of the SUV succumbed to her injuries at the hospital and was deceased.

The El Paso County Coroner’s office conducted an autopsy of the deceased driver. The deceased driver has been identified as 78-year-old Janis Siefert.

This fatal crash is the 26th fatal crash in Colorado Springs this year. Last year at this time there were 25 fatal crashes in Colorado Springs, according to CSPD.