Colorado qb dominiq ponder dies in tesla crash at 23

Tragedy struck the Colorado Buffaloes football program Sunday as quarterback Dominiq Ponder, just 23, perished in a single-car accident in Boulder County. Ponder, a sophomore from Florida, lost control of his Tesla as it navigated a curve, smacking a guardrail and then a utility pole before careening down an embankment and bursting into flames. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene.

Speed suspected as factor in fatal crash

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating, with a preliminary finding that excessive speed appears to have played a role in the tragedy. Ponder had only played in two games for the Buffaloes last season after transferring from Bethune-Cookman.

The news sent shockwaves through the CU Athletics community, with athletic director Fernando Lovo issuing a statement expressing the school's devastation and mourning for the young quarterback.