4/12/2010: injury crash Lake Av and Lake Circle.

An on-duty Parking Enforcement Unit officer was attempting to turn when she struck a bicyclist who had just entered the crosswalk. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

On 04-04-10 at 8:51PM, a 39 year-old male was riding his bicycle in the crosswalk, crossing Brookside St, along the east side of Nevada Ave. A silver Dodge pickup truck was travelling south on Nevada and made a left turn to eastbound Brookside St. As he did so, he struck the bicyclist causing a broken leg and broken collar bone. The motorist fled the scene, heading east on Brookside and was seen northbound on Wahsatch. Motor officers and patrol flooded the area immediately, followed leads given by witnesses and located the suspect vehicle at a nearby apartment complex. The vehicle listed to a unit within the complex. The suspect turned himself in to police and was arrested for Felony Hit and Run and related charges.

While the accident was being investigated, another driver ignored the barricades and nearly struck two police officers. The driver was charged with DUI related offenses.

Colorado Springs police were notified at 10:40pm on 4/2/2010 of a one vehicle roll-over crash in the drainage ditch at Flintridge Dr. and Academy Blvd. Upon arrival officers located a Jeep on it’s right side in the drainage ditch located at the SW corner of Flintridge Dr. and Academy Blvd. The investigation revealed that the car was westbound in a bank parking lot and failed to negotiate a left turn, drove off the west edge of the pavement and rolled into the drainage ditch landing on it’s right side. The Driver was transported to a local Hospital for minor injuries. The passenger was transported to the same hospital for injuries including a serious head and brain injury.

The drive was evaluated for DUI at the hospital.

Officers from the Gold Hill division responded to the intersection of Colorado Ave and Cascade Ave to investigate an Auto-Pedestrian Traffic Crash on 4/1/2010. A witness reported a black SUV hit a pedestrian who was crossing Colorado Ave. The SUV then left the scene and was followed by a witness, who called police. The driver of the SUV returned to the scene after a short period of time and was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident involving injury and was processed for DUI. The 37 year old pedestrian was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Memorial Hospital.

At 7:51 pm Thursday, 3/25/2010, Police Dispatch was notified of a one vehicle roll-over crash on Stetson Hills Blvd. east of Tutt Blvd. Upon arrival officers found a white passenger vehicle facing southbound in the eastbound lanes of Stetson Hills Blvd. The male driver and the female front passenger were still seated belted in however the rear seat passenger had been ejected out of the vehicle as it rolled.

The driver and front seat passenger were transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. The passenger who was ejected died at the scene. It appears speed and alcohol were contributing factors in this crash.

On 03/13/10 at approximately 0105 hours CSPD Sergeant Philip LeBeau was riding a Honda Police Motorcycle southbound on Tejon at Vermijo when a red KIA Optima driven by Raymond Laracuente (27 YOA) turned left in front of him. Sgt. LeBeauâ??s motorcycle struck the right side of the car and he was launched over the vehicle, landing approximately 45 feet from the point of impact. Sgt. LeBeau was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Mr. Laracuente was arrested on charges of Vehicular Assault and DUI. Alcohol does appear to be a factor in the accident. None of the occupants of the KIA were injured.

At 0113 hours on 3/14/2010, Police Dispatch was notified of a traffic crash on Nevada Ave. at Cheyenne Rd. which involved a power outage.
The investigation revealed that Traffic Unit #1 was southbound on Nevada Ave. at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a major power-line pole located on the west curbline of Nevada Ave. The pole was sheared off at the base cutting power to a one block area. The driver and three passengers were transported to Memorial Central and treated for minor injuries.
Driver #1 was processed for possible DUI and will also be cited for Reckless Driving.
City Utilities will be replacing the power pole which will take approximately eight hours starting at 6:00am. During this time only one lane of southbound Nevada will be open from St. Elmo to Cheyenne Rd.

CSPD received a report of an automobile vs. pedestrian traffic accident at Circle Dr and Winnepeg Dr. on 3/15/2010. Officers responded to the scene and learned that a male pedestrian had been struck in the street by a southbound automobile. The pedestrian was deceased at the scene of the collision. The pedestrian was identified as 15-year-old Ali Aashiq, a Palmer High School student. The vehicle was a 1991 Honda Accord and was driven by 19-year-old Erick Ryan of Colorado Springs. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor. Excess speed is suspected to be a factor. This incident is still under investigation and CSPD is working in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office. Any decision to file charges will be announced later,

A $300,000 settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a child in the Colorado foster care system. The lawsuit accused the El Paso County Department of Human Services of negligence stemming from abuse by foster parent Jules Lynn Cuneo. Cuneo was convicted of child abuse resulting in death in February.