On October 28, 2022, the driver of the Nissan sedan, who was making a left turn at the time of the traffic crash, was arrested, and charged with Vehicular Homicide, (a class 3 Felony), four counts of Vehicular Assault, (a class 4 Felony), Driving under the Influence (a Misdemeanor), and Driving under the Influence per se (a Misdemeanor). The driver is identified as 54-year-old Michael David Tapia Sr. of Colorado Springs.
Investigators determined that speed was a contributing factor in this traffic crash. The two other vehicles involved in this crash were traveling at excessive speeds. An arrest warrant was obtained for 29-year-old Nicholas Tyler Watson. He was charged with Vehicular Homicide-Reckless Driving, (a class 4 Felony), and four counts of Vehicular Assault, (a class 5 Felony). Mr. Watson was arrested on these charges on January 10, 2023 and booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
An arrest warrant was obtained for the third driver involved in this traffic crash, identified as 41-year-old Desislava Georgieva Velkova of Colorado Springs. Velkova was charged with Vehicular Homicide-Reckless Driving, (a class 4 Felony), and four counts of Vehicular Assault (a class 5 Felony). She was arrested January 18, 2023 and booked in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.
Based on the investigation it is suspected there was a road rage altercation between Watson and Velkova which led to increased speeds before and during the traffic crash.