~ Colorado Springs, CO - On the evening of March 22, 2026, a tragic head-on traffic crash occurred near the intersection of Briargate Boulevard and Lexington Drive. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) received a call for service at approximately 8:14 PM and immediately responded to the scene.

According to the initial report, two vehicles were racing eastbound on Briargate Boulevard when one of them crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a westbound Volkswagen SUV. Both drivers were seriously injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Sadly, the driver of the Volkswagen SUV, identified as 77-year-old Deanna Stemler, later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The CSPD Major Crash Team has taken over the investigation due to the severity of the incident.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that speed may have been a contributing factor in this crash. The El Paso County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on Stemler on March 23, confirming her identity as the deceased driver.

This tragic incident marks the 11th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs this year alone. Comparatively, at this time last year there were only five traffic fatalities reported. In the past 365 days, there have been a total of 59 traffic fatalities in Colorado Springs.

The CSPD urges all drivers to exercise caution and follow traffic laws to prevent such devastating accidents from occurring in the future.

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