On Friday October 28, 2022, at 8:18 p.m., members of the Colorado Springs Police Department, Gold Hill Division, were dispatched to the intersection of Lake Avenue and Venetucci Boulevard regarding a three-car traffic crash with serious injuries. Upon the officer’s arrival, they learned that a Nissan Altima was eastbound on Lake Avenue, making a left turn to travel north on E Cheyenne Road. As the Nissan was turning left, the Nisan struck a Jeep SUV in the intersection, causing both vehicles to spin. As the Jeep spun, the engine from the Jeep was ejected from the vehicle striking a Subaru at the intersection. The driver of the Nissan got out of the Nissan and attempted to leave the area on foot. Three other people from the Nissan and two people from the Jeep were transported to local hospitals with serious life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Nissan was eventually located and transported to a local hospital. Due to the nature of the crash, the Major Crash Team was contacted and responded to assume the investigation.
During the investigation, detectives were informed that one of the passengers from the Nissan succumbed to their injuries and was deceased at the hospital.
On Monday, October 31, 2022, members of the El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the deceased person from the Nissan. The deceased person has been identified as 32-year-old Michael Tapia Jr of Colorado Springs. The driver of the Nissan, 54-year-old Michael Tapia Sr, has been arrested and charged with Vehicular Homicide for his involvement in this crash. This is the 50th fatal traffic crash in Colorado Springs this year. At this same time last year, there were 42 fatal traffic crashes in Colorado Springs.