Community calls for additional safety measures in Black Forest following deadly crash

BLACK FOREST, Colo. (KRDO) - Neighbors in northern Colorado Springs are calling for additional safety measures in Black Forest after a child was killed on Aug. 30, 2024, in a crash. Colorado State Patrol says a 75-year-old man did not stop at a stop sign and collided with the father and son's car. 

The family has confirmed to KRDO13 that 12-year-old Chase Culp died following the crash at the intersection of Shoup Road and Herring Road.

Some in Black Forest say this could have been prevented. After a deadly crash in 2017 that killed a mother and her two children El Paso County added additional signage to the area. But people living in the area say that more can be done to get ahead of these crashes before they turn fatal.

"It's sad that we lost a life, it's sad that we have to lose a life to get the attention needed to fix these problems," said family friend Casey Pellizzari.

Casey Pellizzari says at night the stop signs start to blend in with the lights in the area. He says this lack of visibility could be eliminated by introducing flashing LED lights, and rumble strips and by clearing trees. Pellizzari believes it's a cost-effective solution.

"Those are cheap solutions that range anywhere from $100 to a few hundred dollars. And had that been here, I'm confident that Chase would still be alive," said Pellizzari.

In response an El Paso County spokesperson said,

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones affected by the tragic accident on Friday night. Safety on our roadways is always a top priority. However, it's important to acknowledge that, despite the best engineering and safety improvements, the behavior of drivers plays a critical role in preventing accidents.”

El Paso County

Community members are raising money for the Culp family in their time of loss. Those who feel drawn to donate can do so at this GoFundMe link.