DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — A tragic collision on a Colorado highway has claimed the lives of a father, two of his young children, and a family friend, authorities said, in a crash involving a stolen vehicle driven by a suspect whose identity remains undisclosed. The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon along Highway 83 near milepost 40.5, when a stolen Toyota hatchback veered into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into a Ford sedan carrying the victims.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the crash occurred just before 4:40 p.m. The four people killed were identified Wednesday as Alvin Corado, 35, of Colorado Springs; his daughters MaKenlee Corado, 11, and Toretto Corado, 8; and Jase Green, 12, a friend of the family, also from Colorado Springs. All four died at the scene of the accident in Douglas County, about 20 miles south of Denver.
The Toyota hatchback had been reported stolen roughly an hour earlier in Aurora, at the Nine Mile Station, the Aurora Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital. Authorities described the theft as a carjacking, in which a 31-year-old man from Denver allegedly pulled a woman from the driver's seat and fled with the vehicle. Details on the woman's condition were not immediately available.
As the suspect drove the stolen car northbound on Highway 83, he lost control for reasons that remain unclear, according to investigators. He over-corrected, causing the vehicle to roll into the southbound lane, where it collided with the Corado family's sedan. The impact was devastating, leaving the highway littered with wreckage and prompting a swift emergency response.
Two survivors from the family's vehicle were airlifted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries: Mia Corado, 13, MaKenlee and Toretto's older sister, and Jase Green's 14-year-old brother, whose name has not been released publicly. Mia, who was seated in the back of the car, endured severe trauma, her mother Marissa Corado shared in emotional Facebook updates this week.
Marissa detailed Mia's extensive injuries, which include a lacerated liver, fractured pelvis, punctured diaphragm, broken arm and finger, tears in her esophagus, fractured ribs, a broken back, and lung contusions. "Not even ten minutes after the [intubation] tube was taken out, Mia asked the question we knew was coming and had prepared for," Marissa wrote. After learning of her father and siblings' deaths, Mia responded simply, "I know."
Marissa recounted how Mia remembered every harrowing moment of the crash, remaining awake throughout and even attempting to help those around her. "[She] even tried to help," Marissa wrote. "We were told by those on the scene that she was awake, but we were not prepared for all of the details, and had hoped trauma would have blocked it out of her brain. The very heart-wrenching and terrifying details, we will keep private … The things Mia saw and went through [are] something that no person should ever have to witness, let alone a 13-year-old witnessing of her very own family."
Despite her own suffering, Mia has shown remarkable concern for others. Traumatized, she told her mother, "I'm sorry that I lost my children," and asked how Marissa would be okay. "We all know this is who Mia is, always looking out for others and being brave-faced through every hardship," Marissa added. By Saturday, Mia had been moved into a wheelchair for the first time, though she continues to battle heart issues and fluid in her lungs, preventing her from traveling to the funeral services.
The suspect, described only as a 31-year-old Denver man with a criminal history, also perished in the crash. Both the Aurora Police Department and Colorado State Patrol declined requests for his full identity, confirming only his age and city of residence. The Douglas County Coroner’s Office stated they would not release his name "at [his] family’s request." No further explanation was provided for withholding the information, and APD public information officer Gabby Easterwood also declined to comment on the suspect's immigration status.
The crash has left the Corado family grappling with profound loss and ongoing medical challenges. A vigil is planned in Colorado Springs to honor MaKenlee and Toretto, according to Marissa. Their joint funeral service is scheduled in South Dakota, but it awaits Mia's recovery and ability to travel. To help cover funeral costs, memorial services, Mia's ICU expenses, and Marissa's lost wages as she cares for her daughter, a GoFundMe campaign has been established.
"Please help me lay my babies to rest and get them back home to South Dakota for their service, and help me care for Mia who has a long road ahead of her," Marissa wrote in the fundraiser post. "Thank you for your thoughts and prayers in advance."
MaKenlee's school, Sabin Middle School in Colorado Springs, issued a statement Tuesday mourning the loss of one of its students. "She was a bright, joyful presence in our school community—'friends with everyone,' as her mom shared," school officials wrote. "Please keep MaKenlee’s entire family in your thoughts during this difficult time." The statement described the tragedy as "incomprehensible," echoing the sentiments of many in the community.
Highway 83, a key route connecting Colorado Springs to the Denver metro area, has seen its share of serious accidents, though officials have not yet linked this crash to broader road safety issues. The Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate the exact cause of the suspect's loss of control, including potential factors like speed or impairment, but no additional details were released as of Wednesday.
The incident highlights the ripple effects of vehicle thefts in the region. Aurora, where the carjacking occurred, has reported a rise in auto thefts in recent years, though specific statistics for Nine Mile Station were not immediately available. The Aurora Police Department emphasized that the stolen vehicle was recovered at the crash scene, but the focus remains on supporting the victims' families.
As the Corado family navigates this unimaginable grief, community support has poured in through donations and messages of condolence. Marissa expressed hope that Mia could soon "cry, and process, and grieve," noting her daughter's reluctance to show emotion as she tries to stay strong for others. "My hope is that soon she can cry, and process, and grieve, because right now she will not waiver in emotion, as she feels the need to be strong for others," she wrote.
Investigators from multiple agencies, including the Colorado State Patrol and Aurora Police, are piecing together the timeline leading up to the fatal collision. While the suspect's background includes a criminal history, specifics were not disclosed. The withholding of his identity has drawn some questions from media outlets, but authorities have stood firm on their decision, prioritizing family requests in the aftermath of the tragedy.
For now, the focus in Colorado Springs and beyond is on healing. The vigil and eventual funeral services will serve as a gathering point for remembrance, as the community rallies around the survivors and honors those lost in what officials described as a preventable highway horror.