Heart-pounding emergency dispatch audio reveal the moment that first-responders got on the scene of the fiery Tesla crash that killed University of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder early Sunday.
“Driver unconscious, not breathing,” one first-responder tells dispatchers about 3:10 a.m. — around 10 minutes after the initial call about a single-car crash in Boulder.
Ponder died at age 23 early Sunday after losing control of the 2023 Tesla Model 3, according to Colorado State Patrol.
Speed was “suspected” to be a factor in the crash, cops said.
The crash happened when the beloved quarterback, who was heading west on Baseline Road, tried to take a curved right-hand turn – but swerved the vehicle into the eastbound lane, before it plowed through a guardrail.
The Tesla struck an electrical line pole and then rolled down into an embankment, where it burst into flames, CSP said in a news release Sunday.
Devastating dispatch audio obtained by The Post reveals the moments first responders learned of the accident – and what they found at the tragic scene.
“Confirm route to Baseline and Newland Court for a transformer on fire,” a dispatcher can be heard saying over the Boulder County Sheriff and Fire radio broadcast at 3:01 a.m.
A couple of minutes later, the dispatcher says that witnesses called in about a “glow” above the scene – which, the dispatcher said could be the result of the car on fire.
“You’re responding to Baseline and Newland, Baseline and Newland in the area for what we now believe is going to be a car accident that has caused the transformer to blow,” the dispatcher said.
“Several RPs advise that they can see a glow from it.”
Moments later she added: “We now have an update saying that the car itself is on fire.”
About 10 minutes later, one first-responder reports finding Ponder.
“There is one, so far, person in the driver’s seat,” he says.
“Car is not on fire, we’re going to be attempting to extricate as well.”
Just a few minutes later, however, the firefighter is back on the radio.
“Driver unconscious, not breathing,” he says.
At 3:23, another first responder makes a heart-wrenching announcement.
“This is going to be an obvious death,” he says over the radio.
Ponder – a third-year sophomore from Opa-locka, Florida, who attended Bethune-Cookman University before transferring to the Buffs – died at the scene.
He was beloved by his coaches at Colorado, with a number of them taking to social media in the aftermath of his death.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones. Dom was one of my favorites!” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders wrote on X. “He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder’s body was taken to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office where it will be autopsied, an office representative told The Post.
The crash remains under investigation, cops said Monday.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
