Colorado Springs police concerned about recent traffic fatalities

Three people are dead within the first four days of the New Year. T his is following a record setting year in 2017 for fatal accidents. The first fatal accident of 2018 happened only two days into the new year. A man was crossing the street at South Nevada Ave. when he was hit and pinned under an SUV. “The fire department and police department run on these calls too often probably,” said Capt. Brian Vaughan with the fire department. The second just two days later at Circle Dr. and Galley Rd. when a pedestrian crossing circle was hit. Lt. Howard Black with the Colorado Springs Police Department said the rate at which these are happening is concerning. “We have to look at volume. This is no longer a small city. We’re the 39th, 40th largest city,” Black said. Black said the other unusual thing about these incidents is there is no similar factors that led to the accidents. “We’re always working with the traffic engineers to see whether or not there could be a design flaw. So it is a dynamic process as these accidents come in,” Black said. Black said whether you’re walking down the road looking at your phone, or in your car looking at the latest notifications he says it’s everyone’s responsibility to be safe. “To ensure that we’re not drinking, to ensure that we’re not speeding, to ensure that we’re not distracted on these roadways,” Black said. The intersections where the accidents have happened are being looked at by the city to make sure they are as safe as possible.