On Monday, June 5, 2023, at 11:53 p.m., members of the Colorado Springs Police Department, Stetson Hills Division, were dispatched to E Woodman Road and Golden Sage Drive to investigate a single-vehicle traffic crash. While enroute, officers were advised that the vehicle was now engulfed in fire. Upon arrival, officers and medical personnel determined that the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was deceased on the scene.
Due to the nature of the crash, the Major Crash Team was contacted and responded to the scene to assume the investigation. The investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling west on Woodman Road at Golden Sage Drive. The vehicle left the road’s north side, traveling into a drainage ditch and striking the concrete culvert before becoming engulfed in flames. Speed is suspected to be a factor in this investigation. At this time, it is unknown if alcohol was also a factor.
On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the deceased driver. The driver has been identified as 18-year-old Colorado Springs resident Jace Bajza. This is the 21st fatal traffic crash in Colorado Springs this year. At this same time last year, Colorado Springs had 16 fatal traffic crashes. Colorado Springs has had 61 fatal traffic crashes in the past 365 days.