Three people, including a local, popular professional video game player, involved in a deadly car crash in Aurora had been drinking heavily.
Aurora police on Tuesday released an investigative report detailing the deaths of Phillip Klemenov, 24, of Aurora, known to video game fans as “Phizzurp,” and Marcelous Johnson, 26, of Colorado Springs. Klemenov was driving Johnson’s car the night of Oct. 2. Both died.
The two men, close friends, drank Champagne, beer and rum, along with Adrianna Lemus, 18, of Aurora, Klemenov’s girlfriend.
Lemus, was a backseat passenger inside the black 2004 Infiniti G35. The trio stopped for drinks at several establishments in Denver, as well as drinking inside the vehicle. Klemenov was driving at about 80 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 9900 Block of East Florida Avenue when he lost control, hitting a curb, flipping and crashing through trees. The car skidded and rolled an estimated 150 feet. It was crushed, unrecognizable when coming to a stop.
Lemus, in a hospital emergency room after the 2:45 a.m. incident, talked with Aurora police investigators, giving details on events leading to the crash. Lemus, who had also been drinking, suffered head and leg lacerations.Johnson, who carried a handgun in a waistband holster, fired several shots from the vehicle during the course of the outing. Investigators recovered a 9mm black Beretta handgun and spent shell casings from inside the wreckage. An empty cardboard Pacifico six-pack beer carrier was found on the rear passenger floorboard. Shot glasses also were found.
Johnson died at the scene, and Klemenov died at Aurora South Hospital. As staff members at the hospital treated Klemenov, a blood sample, per a court-issued warrant, was drawn at about 3:55 a.m., about 70 minutes after the crash.
Hospital staffers had administered eight units of fresh blood and four units of frozen plasma to save Klemenov’s life. His blood-alcohol level, after the infusion, came back at 0.139 percent, the report said. In Colorado, a BAC reading over 0.08 percent is over the legal limit.
All three were wearing seat belts when the car crashed. Johnson is survived by a wife and a child.
Lemus, according to the report, is a victim in the incident. The case is closed, police said, because the alleged offender, Klemenov, died in the crash.
