Two people were killed early this morning in Colorado Springs following a head-on collision triggered by a motorist trying to elude police by driving the wrong way on Interstate 25.
Matthew Sims, 25, of Widefield and Sylvia Hinklin, 64, of Cotopaxi were killed in the accident that happened at about 12:30 a.m., according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.
A small dog in Hinklin’s 2002 Saturn also was killed in the accident.
A police officer was taking a prisoner to jail in his patrol car when he saw Sims’ car stopped, facing south, in the median next to the northbound lanes.
When the officer slowed down just south of Cimarron Street, the Volkswagen Jetta took off. Police say Sims sped up to 90 mph going in the wrong direction as the officer tried to drive parallel to him in the southbound lanes.
The officer then turned off his siren and lights and did not pursue the Volkswagen, according to the police report.
The Jetta crashed head-on into the Saturn and then rolled.
It is not known whether alcohol was a factor, authorities say.
The highway was shut for about four hours during the accident investigation.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
