Man Dies In Truck Crash Near Townhomes
Colorado Springs police confirmed that a man believed to be a Fort Carson soldier was killed in a crash Thursday night
Police said the crash happened shortly after 7 p.m. on Westmeadow Drive in front of the Cheyenne Autumn Townhomes, just north of the Mountain Post, and that the victim was driving a pickup truck that knocked down a light pole and plowed through brick landscaping before stopping against a tree.
The victim’s name wasn’t released as of midnight Thursday, but police said he appeared to be in his early 20s and wore Army fatigues. Spec. Daniel Sheffield, another soldier who came to try and help the victim, said the victim was assigned to Fort Carson.
“I showed up with a few other people who I saw running across the road, picking up some of the debris,” said Sheffield. “We looked in and it was awful. He didn’t seem to be wearing a seat belt. Someone was feeling for a pulse and didn’t find one.”
Sheffield said he overheard the victim’s family and friends say the crash may have been a suicide because of trouble he was having in his Army career. Police haven’t confirmed that, although an officer at the scene said there was no sign that the truck braked, skidded, swerved or tried to avoid the impact.
The police Major Accident Unit is investigating. The coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy on Friday.
A similar crash happened in the same location in Jan. 2010. Police said the driver in that crash rolled the vehicle, caused similar damage and fled on foot.
