Deadly crash involving pedestrian reported in southeast Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A man was killed after he was hit by multiple vehicles while crossing a busy intersection in Colorado Springs early Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson with the Colorado Springs Police Department said when they reached Fountain and Jet Wing just after 5:30 a.m., the victim was dead in the roadway and several cars were pulled over.

“We have good reason to believe at least one of them hit him. So that’s what we’re still looking at, making sure we have all of the vehicles involved,” said Lt. Steve Noblitt with the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Police later confirmed that the victim was hit by more than one car. The El Paso County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 55-year-old Joseph Rector.

According to Noblitt, the victim was crossing the street in a crosswalk when he was hit.

“The light for traffic was green, so that meant his light on the crosswalk shouldn’t have been green for him. We’re just trying to figure out what would have caused him to cross,” Noblitt said.

Speeding, drugs and alcohol are not suspected factors.

“It was dark at that point, at that time of the morning, so it could be that, but we just don’t know,” Noblitt said.

In a surveillance video shown to 11 News by a local business owner, a car can be seen making a left turn at the intersection, turning its hazard lights on and pulling out of the roadway right after reaching the crosswalk. In the following moments, multiple other vehicles and at least on pedestrian made their way to the scene as well.

Wednesday’s crash is the fourth fatal collision in Colorado Springs in this young year.

“Even when you do have a [signal] and you’re crossing the road, you really need to pay attention and make sure that the other cars are seeing you. You can’t assume just because you have a light, you’re going to be okay and nothing could happen,” Noblitt said. " ... In a car-versus-person crash, you’re going to lose every time.

“Then drivers out there, slow down. When you’re coming across these intersections and there’s a potential for pedestrians, slow down and look for them. Don’t just assume, ‘Hey, I’ve got the green light, so I’m okay.’”

The city has tallied multiple record-breaking traffic fatality rates over the past several years, a troubling trend that has shown no sign of abating, with 2022 being the city’s worst year yet.

“The only way we’re going to reduce these fatals in Colorado Springs, this fatality rate that we’re having ... it’s going to be a community-wide effort,” Noblitt said. “We’re all going have to drive a little safer, we’re all going to have to watch out for each other. So let’s do this together and let’s reduce these traffic fatalities. Let’s drive with courtesy and caution and watch out for each other.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, police were still investigating exactly how many vehicles were involved. No one was facing charges last time this article was updated.

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