(COLORADO SPRINGS) — According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), the El Paso County Coroner has released the identities of the two victims from the fatal pickup truck crash on the overpass of South Circle Drive over Hancock Expressway on Saturday, July 5.
CSPD reported that on July 5, when officers arrived on the scene of the crash on July 5, they found that a pickup truck had been driving south on Circle with two passengers unrestrained in the back of a pickup truck when a second vehicle hit the rear end of the truck. The two passengers were thrown from the back of the truck. One was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and the other died at the scene, despite efforts to save his life.
On Monday, July 7, the coroner’s office conducted an autopsy of the passenger who died at the scene and identified him as 20-year-old Fernando Gallardo-Franco.
On Friday, July 18, CSPD learned that the passenger who had been taken to the hospital later died from his injuries. That same day, the coroner’s office conducted an autopsy and identified as 19-year-old Jorge Cruz.
The driver of the other vehicle was arrested on the scene for DUI, according to CSPD, and identified as 20-year-old Chase Antonio Chason. He was charged with Vehicular Homicide and Driving Under the Influence.
This was the 24th and 25th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs in 2025. At this same time in 2024, there were 31 traffic fatalities in the city.
