Category: krdo-local-news

Heather Skold

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado State Patrol confirmed to KRDO13 that a 15-year-old boy died in a dirt biking incident south of Ellicott Christmas Eve shortly after 5:00 p.m.

Two people were riding separate dirt bikes through a field near Jayhawk Avenue and Ellicott Highway and at one point, they had a violent collision.

When first responders arrived, they immediately began doing CPR on both victims, according to CSP.

Their injuries, so severe that crews called two air ambulances to the scene. However, only one would leave with a passenger.

One of the riders, just 15-years-old, did not survive, and was declared dead at the scene.

The other victim, a 21-year-old man, was flown by helicopter to a hospital.

Things are still early on in this investigation and the exact cause of the crash is still unclear.

We are still awaiting an update on the medical status of that second victim.

This article may be updated.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It can’t fit under the tree, but that won’t stop an e-bike, e-moto, e-dirtbike, or any other variation from potentially being a popular gift this Christmas.

While it can be a thoughtful gift, some trauma surgeons, families, and local first responders say it can also be potentially deadly.

We’re talking about e-bikes and their illegal high-powered counterparts that you might unknowingly buy online.

In 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said 24,400 emergency room visits were linked to e-bikes.

The Colorado Springs Police Department told KRDO13, “CSPD urges parents and guardians to carefully consider whether a child is physically, cognitively, and emotionally prepared to safely operate an e-bike.”

“These machines may look like toys, but they are powerful and can be extremely dangerous in inexperienced hands. We’ve already seen two tragic e-bike deaths in Douglas County involving adults, along with several incidents and injuries investigated by our School Resource Officers, ” said Douglas County Sheriff, Darren Weekly.

“E-bikes can be very dangerous, and we don’t want to see the tragedy of another youth dying unnecessarily,” said Dr. John Maa, a trauma surgeon in California. Dr. Maa has been tracking the rise in injuries that have followed the e-bike’s rise in popularity lockstep. He’s noticed that the injuries aren’t resembling those of an analog bike, but closer to a motorcycle.

It’s not a trend unique to the Golden State.

“That was like the worst day of my life,” Danielle Barrett still remembers what she was doing on that day in October. She’d just come inside the house and had a sip of coffee when middle school officials told her she needed to go to the hospital for her 11-year-old son, Zane.

“I saw him on this ventilator, and I freaked out,” Barrett says. The hospital staff told her Zane fell off the back of a friend’s e-bike, hitting the back of his head. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

“He was a straight-A student. Now he’s not. He’s missed 30-plus days of school. He gets headaches, he gets highly agitated,” Barrett says his road to recovery is at least a year long.

These accidents aren’t limited to pre-teens, either.

Candi Hegenbert said her partner had purchased an ‘e-bike’ online for a little less than $1,000. It was advertised as having a top speed of 31 mph.

“I personally had no idea that he could even go 50 miles an hour on this bike. I thought it was just a little bike with a little go,” Hegenbert said. Her son soon learned its top speed was 50 mph. She tells me he took the bike for a spin on a clear day and ended up losing control of the bike, trying to hit top speed. He flipped the bike, breaking his wrist in multiple places.

“My reaction was, oh my gosh, you know, this could have been much worse than just a broken wrist.”

The Colorado Springs Police Department has some tips on how to stay safe on an e-bike:

Verify the bike’s class and top speed—ensure it complies with Colorado law.

Choose age-appropriate equipment

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is entering its third year of de-emphasizing humor on its highway message boards intended to reinforce driver safety.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) updated its guidelines for messaging in January 2024, as more states began transmitting basic messages such as Get Insured or Get Fined, and Christmas themes such as Ho-Ho-Hold Down Your Speed.

The messaging trend raised questions about whether messages were overly focusing on humor or making drivers uncomfortable by, for example, displaying fatality statistics.

According to the FHA’s updated 1,100-page manual, which outlines the regulations for signs and other traffic control devices, all messages should be “simple, direct, brief, legible, and clear.”

However, that directive pertains to how messaging is normally used — to relay weather conditions, crash information, or even Amber Alerts — but allows leeway for traffic safety messaging.

A CDOT communications staffer, Sam Cole, creates messages and sends them monthly to the Joint Traffic Operations Center in Pueblo.

The messages are entered into a data system by technicians and appear on message boards in real time.

“Our goal is to engage the public, and you need to engage the public cleverly,” said Cole. “And sometimes humor is a good way to do that. But we don’t want people spending the rest of their days trying to figure out what that message meant.”

To that end, CDOT has eliminated the use of pop culture references and localisms in messages that would confuse drivers instead of helping them remember the importance of safe driving.

“One of my favorites is Camp in the Mountains, Not the Left Lane,” Cole revealed. “It’s because driving in the left lane without passing is a pet peeve for many drivers.”

Drivers who spoke with KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior expressed mixed opinions about the messaging trend.

“For speeding, I don’t know how many people are going to slow down because of a sign saying something cute,” said Valerie Ray, a visitor from Texas.

Pueblo resident Chris Riggs said, “It’s getting your attention, and it’s not getting your attention in a preachy way, and they’re not beating up on you. So, I think it’s a good thing.”

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — After two years, Kimberlee Singler will face a court for the alleged murder of her two children.

Singler is a Colorado Springs mother accused of drugging and killing her children in December 2023. Police say two of her children, 9-year-old Ellie Wentz and 7-year-old Aden Wentz, were found dead, and her 11-year-old daughter was injured.

On Tuesday, the district attorney’s office said Singler is back in the United States after close to two years abroad following fleeing the country. The district attorney’s office says she will be scheduled for her first court appearance in the coming days.

“Singler is accused of committing an unthinkable act,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. “I know that these acts have deeply impacted our community, and our hearts remain with the now 13-year-old daughter.”

The district attorney’s office says Singler faces the following charges:

Two counts of first-degree murder (after deliberation with intent)

Two counts of first-degree murder (child victim under 12 years old)

Criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree

First-degree assault

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department

An El Paso County Coroner’s Office report shows that both Ellie and Aden died from gunshot wounds to the head, and one of them also had an incised neck wound that contributed to their death. The reports also show that both kids had toxic or potentially toxic levels of doxylamine, commonly used as a sleep aid, in their systems.

After the alleged murder, officials say Singler left town for the United Kingdom, and prosecutors have hoped to extradite her ever since. Earlier this year, a judge in the U.K. ruled in favor of her extradition.

“You can run… but we will find you, and we will bring you back, and that’s what we did in this case,” said Chief Vasquez.

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Heather Skold

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Homeless shelter guests of all ages received a warm Christmas meal Tuesday afternoon.

Hundreds were treated to a savory dinner and music, and given everyday essentials, including socks, gloves and hats.

“We’re so blessed, and too often we lose focus on what’s important, and this is a good reminder that no matter how tough we think we have it, there’s always somebody who’s got it a little harder than we do. So, so for that reason, it’s extra special to come out and give a part of ourselves,” said Gary Rafferty, a Springs Rescue Mission volunteer.

Volunteers not only served guests, but took time to write them messages of encouragement and peace.

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Bradley Davis

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – Rather than Rudolph, glowing police cruisers and firetrucks will lead Santa with their lights so bright through Monument Tuesday night for the annual “Santa on Patrol.”

It’s like a parade, but instead of throwing out beads or candy, the officers are helping Santa deliver toys to children who need them in the Tri-Lakes area.

The local police and fire departments partnered with Toys for Tots to collect toys for Santa starting in October. The decorated caravan ships off at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Santa will join the parade to personally hand out each toy before his long night on Christmas Eve.

Santa on Patrol uses Pikes Peak United Way to find families who need help. If you would like to apply for next year, call 2-1-1 next Fall and ask for help, or fill out an application from a local organization in your area. You can find a non-exhaustive list here.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — It might be the best Christmas present 18 homeowners on Kern Street could have expected, and although the payoff is still two years away, at least they can anticipate it now.

A week after KRDO 13’s Road Warrior report in early November about the street’s poor condition, neighbors received a visit from Richard Mulledy, the city’s public works director, who announced that the street will be repaved in 2027.

“I was surprised that he was surprised at the condition of the street,” said homeowner Dave Cozad, who contacted The Road Warrior about the situation.

“And he told me: Mr. Cozad, I haven’t been on this street for 20 years. And I don’t remember it being like this. And I said: Well, it’s taken 20 years for it to get this way.”

Cozad said that the street was on the repaving list a few years ago, but was removed without notice.

“The director said that he doesn’t believe it was ever on the list,” he said.

It is now.

Mulledy confirmed that concrete preparation work — including new sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and ramps — will take place next year, and repaving from the 2C expanded paving program will occur the following year.

“We (neighbors) had a get-together recently to celebrate,” Cozad revealed. “We’re happy.”

He explained that the street has quickly deteriorated for decades, after homes along the street were built on clay soil that shifted, broke numerous connections to wastewater lines, and required excavations and repairs that damaged the street and turned it into something like a jigsaw puzzle.

Mulledy emphasized that not every neighborhood can expect to be moved up on the paving list and that there must be extenuating circumstances to do so.

“But I’ll tell you what every neighborhood can expect,” he said. “We’ll look at it, and we will assess it, and we will honestly look at it with the other needs and other neighborhoods and streets in the city. We’ll look at the older infrastructure, and we’ll put it in the correct place.”

Cozad also said that the same shifting clay that broke wastewater lines also cracked walls and foundations in homes — damage that neighbors had to pay for repairs.

“I paid around $15,000,” he said. “But we’re all just glad that the city agrees with the repaving need here.”

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A neighborhood food pantry is facing potential closure after the City of Colorado Springs says it poses a safety risk in a designated bear management area.

The outdoor pantry is located off of Rockrimmon Road on the west side of Colorado Springs.

The city says the pantry is in violation of bear codes, saying the food could attract danger to the quiet residential area.

When SNAP benefits were in limbo due to the fall government shutdown, K Harris and her husband wanted to help their neighbors and provide a blanket of food security.

Harris says even after snap benefits were reinstated, the pantry has remained in high demand. Harris said she restocked it the first time, but since then, community donations have kept the pantry full.

“The gratitude has been off the charts. People are like, thank you so much. My family is, you know, so grateful. I’ve had people leave handwritten notes,” said K Harris.

Harris says it’s been all positive feedback from her community, which left her even more shocked when a code enforcement officer told her she needed to shut it down because the pantry sits in a bear management area.

“The notice basically says that when you’re in the bear management area, you can’t have food waste outside, you know, your trash cans, things like that. But we don’t feel like that applies to the pantry…We don’t feel like that applies to packaged food because all of the stuff is not waste,” says Harris.

According to a copy of the complaint Harris posted on the pantry’s website, a neighbor had complained to the city that the pantry was bringing homeless people into the area. The tipster wrote that they were concerned about the safety of nearby children.

That report led the city to look into bear management area codes.

But rather than shutting down Harris and her husband made upgrades. Installing a gate on the pantry and latch-lock, in addition to a sign reading “no bears allowed.”

“I do think it’s bear safe. I mean, I don’t think-I think it would have to be an extremely, extremely determined bear. It would have to tear down my fence in order to be able to get into that pantry,” Harris said.

When asked about the code violations, a spokesperson for Colorado Springs said,

“The City of Colorado Springs supports community efforts to help neighbors in need, while also having a responsibility to protect public safety, wildlife, and residents. In this case, the property is located within the City’s Bear Management Area, which was established due to frequent and dangerous encounters between bears and unsecured food sources.

Under City Code, food and other attractants stored outdoors in the Bear Management Area must be secured in bear-resistant containers or structures. Unsecured food, regardless of intent, can attract bears into residential neighborhoods, increasing the risk of property damage, human injury, and the eventual harm or euthanasia of wildlife. These requirements are in place to protect residents, visitors, and wildlife alike.

Neighborhood Services responds to reported concerns by evaluating conditions against the City Code and educating property owners on compliance. The citation issued in this situation was based on the presence of unsecured attractants, consistent with the requirements of the Bear Management Area regulations. At the same time, the City recognizes the importance of understanding the broader context of community-based food assistance efforts. A staff member from the City’s Housing and Homelessness Response team will be reaching out to the resident to learn more about the food pantry and to explore appropriate, safe options that align with City regulations while supporting community needs.

More information about the Bear Management Area and why securing food is critical in bear-active areas is available at ColoradoSprings.gov/Bears.”

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Mild fall weather allowed crews to stay on schedule in repaving a 1.5-mile stretch of Woodmen Road, and now officials will watch how winter weather may affect a different paving material used in the project.

Stone mason asphalt (SMA) is the product used in resurfacing the busy road, from just east of the Academy Boulevard interchange to west of Interstate 25 at the Woodmen/Rockrimmon Boulevard interchange.

Paving started in late September and was completed last weekend.

Officials said that they were impressed with how SMA held up to heavy traffic in the Denver area and wanted to try it on Woodmen, which averages 60,000 vehicles daily.

SMA is thicker than traditional asphalt and harder to work with, but officials said that they’re happy with how it has performed so far.

“If you happen to be stopped at a street and you look down, it looks pretty rough,” said Richard Mulledy, the city’s public works director. “And that’s because of that structural stability. It’s not as noisy as you would expect with tire noise. We’ve been really, really happy with that because we were really careful about noise conditions through neighborhoods.”

Although SMA costs up to $53 per ton more than traditional asphalt, he said that the city will consider using it on selected future projects if it saves on maintenance costs.

“We’ll see how it does this winter,” Mulledy said. “We’re repaving six miles of Circle Drive next year. SMA could be a good candidate for that.”

Earlier this year, crews stripped off the previous asphalt that was mixed with rubber from old tires, which didn’t hold up well in Colorado’s high-altitude climate.

However, the city decided not to apply SMA to the Woodmen Bridge over Academy.

“We milled that off, down to the original deck — which is concrete — and that’s actually the finished condition,” he explained. “Now, when you drive and look at it, it looks a little spotty, discolored, unfinished. The sun will bleach that out. Over time, it will look better.”

In a separate but related project, crews repaired the bridge, which was built nearly 15 years ago, by replacing joints and broken concrete, and using improved materials to upgrade the bridge’s weathering surface — officials said it had deteriorated faster than expected.

In another related project earlier in the year, crews rebuilt the center median on westbound Woodmen, just east of I-25, to lengthen the left turn lanes onto the freeway and reduce traffic congestion.

The bridge repair cost $2.7 million, funded by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority. The paving was part of the city’s annual 2C expanded paving program, funded by a voter-approved sales tax increase.

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Marina Garcia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Most families bond over board games or perhaps a day at the park, but a Colorado Springs family has taken an interest in software coding.

Now, a lot of apps are made for children, but not many are made by children.

This app, Fight or Delight, checks both those boxes, and the Rushing family says it helps students reflect on their emotions through language analysis.

Created for students, it works as a journal in which kids can submit entries describing their day. The app will then respond with whether the day was a flight, meaning a bad day. Or a delight, meaning it was a good day.

Bonnie Rushing tells us her daughter, who is six years old, can’t wait to use the app at the end of her day.

She says it allows young students to express themselves, with another important element—increased family communication. 

“You can look at trends, okay. She’s had three pretty rough days in a row. What does that mean? How can we help her? Why is it rough? And you can go back and see her entries,” says app creator and mother, Bonnie Rushing.

The family tells us they intend to keep developing the app. For example, they’d like to add time stamps to the entries and make versions for older students, too. 

However, the family has a very important message for everyone: you shouldn’t always trust what A.I. tells you, and humans should always double-check their work.

Fight or Delight is not available in app stores yet, but Rushing tells us it is a work in progress.

If you are interested in trying the app, you can do so here.

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