A late-March street race on Briargate Boulevard that ended with a deadly head-on crash has now led to two arrests, after both suspected drivers walked into Colorado Springs police headquarters and turned themselves in.
Authorities say 77-year-old Deanna Stemler, who was not involved in the race, later died from injuries suffered in the collision. Police have identified the two suspects as 48-year-old Jerome Archer and 18-year-old Leeanaya Joey Martinez. Both are now booked into the El Paso County Jail, and investigators say the case is far from closed.
What Happened On Briargate Boulevard
The crash unfolded around 8:14 p.m. on March 22 on Briargate Boulevard near Lexington Drive. According to the City of Colorado Springs, two vehicles were racing eastbound when they crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into a westbound Volkswagen SUV.
Both racing drivers were rushed to local hospitals. The driver of the Volkswagen, later identified as Stemler, also received medical treatment but died from her injuries, city officials said. The Major Crash Team is leading the investigation, and speed is being examined as a contributing factor.
Arrest Warrants And Surrenders
As investigators pieced together what happened, officers secured arrest warrants for two people they say were involved in the street race. Those named in the warrants later surrendered to police, according to local coverage reports.
According to KOAA, Archer turned himself in on Thursday and was booked into the El Paso County Jail. Martinez surrendered on Monday. Police note the arrests come nearly two months after the crash and stress that the case remains active.
Police Safety Message To Drivers
Colorado Springs police used the arrests to underline what they say should be obvious but apparently is not: street racing is not just reckless, it can be deadly for people who never signed up for the risk.
"We are a city that relies on individual transportation, and that means every person driving has to make the determination that they are going to drive reasonably and respectfully for everybody," Commander Pamela Castro said, as reported by KKTV.
Officers are asking residents to report suspected racing and to share any video or other evidence that could help them track down offenders.
Crackdown Talk And Neighborhood Frustration
City leaders have signaled they want stronger tools to go after illegal racing. That push includes more proactive enforcement and the use of drones, Chief Adrian Vasquez told KRDO.
Neighbors in the Briargate area say what happened in March did not come out of nowhere. Residents told the station that speeding and racing are common in the area, and that they have seen crashes and fence damage before. Police say they are running targeted operations with partner agencies while they study longer-term strategies.
Charges The Two Now Face
Martinez is accused of causing the crash. She faces charges that include causing a death, leaving the scene of a crash involving a fatality, participating in an illegal speed contest, failing to maintain required vehicle insurance, and failing to report the crash, according to KOAA.
Police say Archer is accused of causing a fatal crash while participating in illegal street racing and faces related charges tied to the death and the alleged racing activity. Prosecutors have not yet publicly announced formal filings, and the department says the Major Crash Team is still gathering evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867), authorities said, per KKTV. The arrests have refocused attention on Briargate Boulevard as a known racing trouble spot and on how the city plans to roll out new enforcement tactics this summer, city officials told KRDO.
