Lewis-Palmer High School Student Killed In Violent Crash
By Laurie Ciprianol.cipriano@krdo.com
MONUMENT – A violent accident kills a Lewis-Palmer High School student. Three of his friends survived.
The accident happened Saturday afternoon on eastbound I-70 near Vail Pass, about two miles east of Eagle. 19-year old Levi Patrick and three friends were driving home from a California road trip. The Jeep they were in lost control, went off the road, slammed into a fence and rolled several times. “You could best categorize it as a pretty dramatic or a pretty violent rollover crash,” said Sgt. John Hahn with Colorado State Patrol.
Three of the Jeep’s occupants were thrown from the vehicle, including Patrick, who had been sitting in the back seat. Patrick died at the scene. The Jeep’s other occupants, 17-year old Nathaniel Matteson, 18-year old Chase Yeager and 18-year old Jefferson Oakey, are from Monument. They were taken to Vail Valley Hospital with moderate to serious injuries.
Patrick was a senior at Lewis-Palmer High. “What I remember most was in eighth grade when I took him to a track meet,” said family friend Kit Kirk. “He got in the car and he was all excited to show his friends his new bible. And he showed them his new bible and he talked about Jesus the whole way. He was a wonderful young man who was dedicated, loved Jesus, loved his friends, loved sports,” said family friend Kit Kirk.
Patrick’s love of sports is evident on his Facebook page. One video shows him arm wrestling. Several football photos are posted as well. He was a star running back and homecoming king.
Sharon Patrick, Levi’s mother, posted an emotional comment on her son’s Facebook page. She wrote: “My precious 19 year old son Levi went to be with Jesus yesterday after the car he was in had a tire blown out and rolled. Please pray for us. Our loss is very, very great. Even though we know Levi is with Jesus, it is beyond difficult. We loved him very, very much.”
“Any time there’s a loss of life on our highways it’s tragic,” said Sgt. John Hahn, with Colorado State Patrol. “But it is most especially tragic when the loss of life is from someone so young.”
Sgt. Hahn says it does not appear that alcohol, drugs or speed were a factor in the crash. “We’re looking at the possibility of a sudden tire failure and the role it may have played in the crash,” said Sgt. Hahn. “The investigation is still ongoing.”
A vigil is planned for 7:00 p.m. Sunday night at It’s a Grind coffee shop in Monument.
