Author: KRDO

Julia Donovan

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Investigators in New York City are trying to figure out what caused a helicopter to crash in the Hudson River Friday, killing a family of five tourists and the pilot. It’s the latest crash in a series of aviation accidents across the country that have gained national attention. We spoke with a helicopter tour company here in Colorado Springs to see if this string of crashes is deterring people from flying with them.

“That’s not even a factor to them,” Arapahoe Flight Club owner, Diego Blandon, said in an interview with KRDO Friday about the tourists booking flights with his company. “The excitement of flying I think is much more than any fear as a result of anything of the sort.”

We flew with Pilot Jaiden Bickamore who’s been a pilot for around four years.

He told KRDO the first job for many new pilots in the United States is actually becoming a flight instructor.

While it may seem counterintuitive to have the least experienced pilots teaching newbies, Diego added that they actually tend to be safer and more thorough since training is still fresh in their minds, they’re worried about making mistakes so soon in their career, and they haven’t gotten too comfortable yet.

Diego told KRDO the biggest concern in helicopter aviation is complacency in more seasoned pilots who might be more likely to skip safety checks. However, he did assure no one is cutting corners at Arapahoe Flight Club.

Karla Sosa

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- What looked like thousands gathered in front of Colorado Springs City Hall to take part in the ‘Hands Off!’ protest. According to organizers, there were over 1,400 protests in all 50 states. In Colorado, protests happened in Pueblo, Denver, Manitou Springs, and more. Participants called on the current administration to take their hands off the vital programs that they say people rely on. Many protesters holding signs supporting Social Security, and civil rights.

Although this was a huge crowd, the Colorado Springs Police Department said it was a peaceful event.

That wasn’t the case last week when Steve Bannon was in Colorado Springs for the Colorado GOP’s Golden Gala, which was held at Phil Long Music Hall. That crowd was a lot smaller, but there was more conflict.

During today’s rally our crew saw organizers in vests; they were monitoring and making sure that people stayed on the sidewalk and not interfere with traffic, not an increased police presence, another contrast from the Bannon protests.

Protester Luz Gonzales was surprised to see how the protest turned out.

“Colorado Springs is in the fight…We’re not gonna sit idly by as the administration, you know, just takes apart the underpinnings of our democracy and our country, of our constitution,” said Gonzales.

Kevin, a counter-protester he showed up because he supports President Trump and Elon Musk. Kevin said he feels there should be more civil conversations among both sides.

“Let’s have a conversation. You know, you know, you can yell and scream at me all you want, but you’re not getting nowhere because we’re really not understanding what’s going on,” said Kevin.

Gonzalez echoed that sentiment, “If you voted for Trump this [election] or last [election], or if you voted for [Jeff] Crank, there is space for you here. We will listen. We will respect you.”

However, some counter-protestors said they didn’t feel that respect from everyone in the crowd. Tommy, a Trump supporter and counter-protester, said people were allegedly spitting on him and his dog and calling him foul names.

“I will always be a Trumper and I support Elon and every thing that he’s doing. He is exposing all the corruption that all of our tax money has been going towards and not America, but everywhere else but America,” said Tommy, counter-protester.

“I can’t have what I want, which is not to have an administration that is destroying our constitution and democracy are the things that protect our democracy, but we can’t have that,” said Gonzales.

The Colorado Springs Police Department told KRDO13 they didn’t have extra officers near the protest, and no arrests were made.

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (KRDO) – Colorado Springs Police are asking drivers to avoid the Powers and N Carfree intersection because of a multi-car crash.

Photographs taken by the KRDO13 News Team at the accident show at least five cars involved in what appears to be a group of crashes. One car has been flipped on its side.

KRDO13 is working to learn more about the cause of the crash and the medical status of the drivers and passengers involved.

UPDATE:

The Colorado Springs Police Department says a police vehicle was one of seven cars involved in the crash. A police spokesperson Police tells us it started with a call for service near the intersection of North Carefree and Powers. Officers were trying to clear the intersection when another car came through, hitting a patrol car and triggering a seven-car crash.

“Two police vehicles were up here. They were clearing the intersections. They actually cleared northbound, and then a vehicle proceeded southbound through the intersection [and] collided. Not sure what happened, but multiple vehicles collided at that time,” Pam Farmer, Colorado Springs Police, told KRDO13.

Miraculously, officers say no one was hurt, including the driver in the car that flipped over.

Michael Logerwell

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Where’s Waldo? Just ask El Paso County Search and Rescue! During training this weekend, volunteer teams managed to find and rescue a person notorious for blending into the background.

El Paso County Search and Rescue managed to find Waldo amongst the wilderness.

Officals say for rescue teams told KRDO13 finding him was only half the work. Crews also had to bandage up his leg and carry him out of the park. It was part of a fun mock training exercises for rescue teams as the weather warms back up and people, like Waldo, start venturing outside in the backcountry.

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Springs police are investigating the murder of a woman on the east side of the city. A man, identified by police as her companion, was arrested in connection with the murder. 

Neighbors on Yuma St. tell KRDO13 they are used to seeing ambulances in the area. They say there’s a large elderly population living at the Salvation Army apartments, but this time, they were shocked to find out the ambulance they saw was in the neighborhood as part of a murder investigation. 

“It was our daughter’s birthday, so we were just coming home from eating out,” explained Skyla Earhart.

Earhart says when her family arrived at home they saw a large law enforcement presence just a few doors down from them on Yuma St.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said they were responding to a call of a woman who was unconscious and not breathing. First responders declared her dead at the scene. 

CSPD said a man at the home revealed he had been in a physical and verbal disturbance with the woman before she died. 

RELATED: Man arrested for second-degree murder after dead girlfriend found inside home

He was arrested on second-degree murder charges. Learning that information put neighbors like Earhart, with a young daughter, on edge.

“It’s a very scary world with kids nowadays. So you just want to protect those around you. And just having that happen not too far from you, you’re kind of like, oh, I got to keep my eye out a little bit more,” shared Earhart.

Now, detectives with the CSPD homicide unit are working to figure out what led up to the woman’s death.  

“I really just hope that they can come to a conclusion on what happened and hope that the family of those that were impacted are helped during this time. Because it’s a very difficult time, especially losing loved ones that you have and not knowing what happened,” said Earhart.

Police are not releasing the identity of either individual at this time due to the nature of the investigation. 

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pikes Peak chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) is celebrating 16 years of helping children in Southern Colorado. The group is a strong advocate of Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognized in the United States every April.

After a strict training process, BACA members ride as a group to the home of a child who has suffered abuse. They give the child a matching leather jacket and bring them on a ride along, welcoming the child into the BACA family. The group will also stay by the home if they feel the abuser could still be a threat and will show up to the court date to help the child feel confident while testifying against their abuser.

BACA is an international organization going on 30 years. The Pikes Peak riders are celebrating their chapter anniversary Saturday, April 12 at Murray Street Darts in Colorado Springs at 6 p.m. Anyone is welcome.

BACA’s Helpline to request support is 1-800-230-4852. It has to be requested by a legal guardian.

Josh Helmuth

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO0 – Usually, the only time you hear the name Emma Crawford is during Halloween. Not this year. Not in Manitou Springs.

The Manitou Springs Middle School orchestra and choir banded together to perform the Emma Crawford Suite last week. It was a memorable symphony written by their band instructor, Taylor Weimer, and his friend, Danny Tramel, several years ago.

The composition takes the audience through the story of Crawford’s arrival to Manitou over 100 years ago, her death from Tuberculosis, and then her ride down Red Mountain inside her coffin during torrential rains.

It was 80 students playing and singing together in a memorable performance that families will talk about for a long time. Despite limited rehearsal time, Weimer says they nailed it.

“After a lot of hard work in class, and only two full orchestra rehearsals, the students delivered a stellar performance,” he said.

Is there something remarkable happening at your school? Email Josh at SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

Celeste Springer

MOSCA, Colo. (KRDO) – A Colorado Springs family says their dog has become a mini celebrity after a months-long search and joyful reunification.

Christine Ault wrote to KRDO13, stating that her dog, Star, ran off their property in the San Luis Valley area about 190 days ago.

Ault says her family spent weekends traveling from the springs back to the Mosca area in search of Star. Flyers were made, and hours were spent going through pet lost and found Facebook groups, she said.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Ault said the only plus side in their heartbroken search was they met many locals along the way who were just as passionate as they were about finding Star.

Over the weekend, news came which finally drew their search to a close. Ault said a post on a local Facebook page prompted another trip to the San Luis Valley. They were able to find Star all the way in Alamosa.

While Star has shown she has chops as an escape artist and survival expert, her family is excited to have her back home where she will resume time as a therapy dog in a mental health office.

Welcome home, Star!