16-year-old boy dies in SUV crash on Falcon Highway

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash Saturday morning involving four teenagers riding an SUV in El Paso County.

Troopers responded at 6:52 a.m. to reports of a traffic accident on Falcon Highway between Curtis Road and McCandlish Road.

Investigators say a 1999 Mercedes SUV was traveling east on Falcon Highway as it approached Curtis Road. The driver of the vehicle lost control, causing it to roll multiple times until it came to rest and was engulfed in flames on the roadway. All four occupants were ejected from the SUV when it rolled.

The driver os the Mercedes SUV was identified as 17-year-old Vanessa Blanco from Calhan. She was transported with serious injuries to Memorial Central Hospital. Two other passengers, 16-year-old Veronica Blanco and 15-year-old Fatima Mundz-Perez, were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Troopers say the third passenger was a 16-year-old Pueblo resident who died at the scene. None of the four occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Colorado State Patrol is still investigating and says drugs and speed are suspected as possible contributing factors for the crash.

The family of the 16-year-old identified him as Desmond Sherrod. A Gofundme account has been set up to help his family with expenses.