On February 19, 2026, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) received multiple reports of a vehicle submerged in Prospect Lake. Responding officers, along with personnel from the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), initiated rescue operations. Upon reaching the vehicle, first responders located a single occupant inside.
The driver was extricated and transported to a local hospital for immediate medical care. Despite extensive life‑saving efforts, the individual later succumbed to his injuries.
Due to the nature of the incident, the CSPD Major Crash Team was notified and assumed responsibility for the ongoing investigation. No formal charges have been filed at this time, and the case remains open and active.
On April 24, 2026, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office notified CSPD that the deceased driver had been identified as 39-year-old Cedric Harp.
This incident marks the 18th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs in 2026. At this time last year, the city recorded nine traffic fatalities. Over the past 365 days, Colorado Springs has experienced 65 traffic-related deaths.