Car race in Colorado Springs turns deadly

Colorado Springs police said a car race Wednesday night ended with a crash at the intersection of Airport Road and Academy Boulevard and the death of an unidentified driver.

Police were called to the two-vehicle crash just before 8:30 p.m. and the investigation continues.
Witnesses said a small black sedan was racing another vehicle traveling southbound on Academy when the sedan struck a large pickup truck that was turning left from northbound Academy.

Police said the driver of the sedan died immediately, and his name has not been released. The driver of the pickup truck was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other driver involved in the race drove away and is still being sought by police.

Michael Clark, a friend of the driver killed, was in tears as he and his wife visited the crash scene Thursday.

“He was like a son to me,” Clark said. “I don’t know if he was into street racing. I know he liked racing. But… he was generally, as far as I know, a good driver. It hurts. He was loved by many.”

A mechanic who works on hot rods and sports cars said he knew the driver killed. The mechanic spoke off camera and wants to keep himself and his business anonymous.

“He was big into cars like the rest of us,” the mechanic said. “I only met him a few times. I don’t think he was street racing. I think he was just driving too fast.”

The mechanic said there are two categories of racers in town: younger, inexperienced drivers who want to show off, and older, experienced drivers using vehicles with more powerful engines and racing in isolated areas where they’re less likely to be noticed by police.

“There’s nothing in this town for the car guys,” he said. “(Police) shut down meeting spots all the time. But we’ll just find new spots. It’s in our blood. It’ll never stop.”

Maile Gray, of Drive Smart Colorado, said street racing might be considered cool — and made cooler by movies such as “The Fast and the Furious” — but it’s also dangerous and illegal.

“It mostly happens on the east side of town,” she said. “It’s a real problem but it’s very difficult to catch drivers in the act. The big problem is it puts innocent people in the line of danger.”

Gray said street racers face more than just regular traffic citations.

“Violators can get five points off their licenses just for exhibition of speed, even just sitting at an intersection revving your engines. It’s a 12-point violation if you’re convicted of a racing crash, and insurance doesn’t cover damages.”

Gray said local leaders are considering safer options such as a sanctioned racing area.

“But that’s very costly,” she said. “We have several local race tracks but many of the local racers won’t go there.”

Gray said in some parts of the city, hearing or seeing racers is a nightly experience.

“Just because we don’t have crashes often doesn’t mean there’s not much racing,” she said.

On Thursday, the corner where the crash occurred remained a mess, with spilled oil, car debris and a shattered utility box, and a makeshift memorial for the deceased driver began to form.

Thursday’s crash death is the 14th traffic related fatality in Colorado Springs this year, three more than at the same time last year.

If you have any information about the crash and the vehicle that left the scene, call 719-444-7000; if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-7867 or 1-800-222-8477.