Driver sentenced for killing 12-year-old in Black Forest crash
BLACK FOREST, Colo. (KRDO) - On September 9, 76-year-old Pat Harrison took a plea agreement in El Paso County Court.
Harrison pled guilty to a vehicular homicide charge in exchange for his child abuse/reckless cause death, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign, and speeding 20-24 MPH over the limit charges to be dismissed.
Harrison was sentenced to 3 years of probation.
Chase Culp, a Black Forest 12-year-old, was killed in the crash on Aug. 30, 2024. Now, a year later, a Vigil was held in Black Forest to remember Culp and honor his life.
Chase Culp was a beloved son, brother and teammate to so many in El Paso County. His family remembers how sharp and knowledgeable he was. They say he always had a fun fact on hand, and that he'd be giddy to share what he had learned in his studies with family.
They say Chase Culp loved video games. They say he loved to chat with his friends while they were playing. He loved to draw, had a heart for animals and was a friend to so many.
Culp was a dedicated athlete. He played lacrosse, but he and his father were a staple of the local basketball team.
"He was just always at the center of attention, right? He. Whenever he had friends over or during practice, or even at the end of the games, he would always find himself at the center of the boys. He just knew how to get the guys going and make them laugh. By cracking jokes and, like you said, his just the way he smiled. It attracted other, other people towards him, and he knew how to make them feel special. Even when times didn't go our way, he was, he was like, the biggest cheerleader for the boys," explained Chase's father, Colby Culp.
Chase was the youngest child in their family.
"It's been the hardest thing. I mean. I don't have that connection with my younger brother anymore," said Chase's older brother Gavin.
His family has been leaning on their faith and community for the past year as they grieve. They say they will continue to share his legacy. They shared some relief that the sentencing is done, and now they can start the next chapter of honoring Chase and spreading who he was.
In his honor, his family created the CHASEexcellence Memorial Basketball Tournament.
When the accident initially happened, it sparked community members to call for additional safety measures.
The Shoup and Herring Road intersection has since seen some improvements.
El Paso County has since outfitted the stop sign with solar-powered flashing lights and a warning that cross traffic does not stop, to hopefully prevent a crash from happening again.
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