CSPD responding to more crashes in 2019, says traffic sergeant

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A traffic sergeant for the Colorado Springs Police Department says they're getting more emergency calls for crashes in the city this year.

In a podcast by the City of Colorado Springs, Sergeant Jim Stinson with CSPD's Major Crash Team said people have to drive more responsibly as a community.

"This isn't a government problem, it's not a police officer problem, it's a community problem and so we have to hold ourselves accountable," Stinson said in the podcast. "If you drive defensively, you can avoid a lot of these wrecks."

The Major Crash Team has received 105 emergency calls to respond to crashes, surpassing last year's 104 calls.

Sergeant Stinson said 2018 broke records for the city with 48 traffic fatalities. So far in 2019, the city has had 38 deadly crashes. Five of those happened in less than a month since October.

"We're traditionally second in the state with fatal numbers each year behind Denver," Stinson said to listeners. "And El Paso County is traditionally the lead county in fatalities."

Stinson advises motorists to pay attention to the roads and avoid getting distracted. He says speed is usually the main factor in fatal crashes, but driving under the influence and distracted driving are other significant contributors.