Commuters on 6th Avenue driving toward downtown Denver from the west yesterday morning found the route closed at Wadsworth — a sign that suggested something awful had taken place.
Unfortunately, this proved to be true.
A single-car accident near 6th and Sheridan resulted in the death of nineteen-year-old Kayla Flinchpaugh, a passenger in the vehicle.
The driver and another passenger survived — and investigators believe that alcohol and/or drugs may have been a factor in the crash.
In the meantime, those who knew and adored Flinchpaugh have launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral and have turned her Facebook page into a place to mourn her passing.
According to the Lakewood Police Department, the crash took place at around 1 a.m. on Monday, November 2.
A Chevrolet Cavalier in which Flinchpaugh was a passenger collided with a guardrail and rolled several times, the LPD notes.
In the process, Flinchpaugh was ejected from the vehicle and died from head trauma.
The male driver was also thrown from the car, but he suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. And a female passenger was also hurt, but less severely. She was wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident.
"Charges are pending," a police release points out, because of the possibility that the driver was under the influence.
Here's how Flinchpaugh is described in the introduction to the aforementioned GoFundMe page:
This morning, November 2, 2015 we lost an amazing young girl with a beautiful smile! She is up with all the other angles now! Kayla was young, bright, loving, caring and had a smile that would light up any room she walked in to!At this writing, just shy of $3,000 has been pledged toward a goal of $20,000.
In the early hours of Noverber 2nd, Kayla was involved in fatal car accident. She was with two other people who survived the accident. Kayla was sitting in the back seat and was ejected from the car. Kayla was only 19 years old! I wanted to start this page because this is not the only loss this family has had this year. Earlier in the year Kayla's grandfather died. So, not only does this family need your prayers but they need your help to give Kayla the funeral she deserves.
For more information, click here.
Even more moving are the various posts that have popped up on Flinchpaugh's Facebook page since her passing.
Here's a sampling:
A golden heart stopped beating,The volume of remembrances is simply astounding — an indication of how many people Flinchpaugh impacted during her brief time here.
Two shining eyes at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove,
He only takes the best.
RIP Kayla Flinchpaugh I love you I wish i would've had the chance to say goodbye , to laugh with you one more time...
Always tell the people you love how much you do, because in the blink of an eye, they could be gone, and you never want them to have to wonder if anyone cared....
Please tell me it isn't true... I'm literally balling my eyes out right now to think we talked just the other day and now you're gone... I had so many amazing memories with you dude... From school go great nights and long conversation my heart aches that I couldn't see you just one more time.... Please just be a bad dream ... R.I.P my friend... You helped me in a dark time in my life and its.. I just can't I'll always miss and remember you Kayla Flinchpaugh
RIP Kayla, I'm at a loss for words right now, especially since we spoke so recently. Rest easy, your in a better place now.
I can't believe what I'm reading... Kayla Flinchpaugh you had everything in you grasp and to see that gone makes me sad. You gave me inspiration when I was at a low in my life just a few weeks ago. And just thinking I was in your shoes just 3 weeks ago make my heart stop. I miss you and wish we could be come closer. I love you now and forever.
Another angel taken from us way too soon. Kayla Flinchpaugh you were a force to be reckoned with lady! No matter what you were doing, no one could tell you otherwise if you felt strong enough about something. I didn’t see you for many years until I moved back to Lakewood and I saw you at Uncle Bret’s house for a party. I didn’t even recognize you because you had grown up from this sweet little girl into this vivacious and gorgeous woman! You were no longer the little girl I used to babysit. I have been so proud of you the last few months. Seeing you realize what works for you and what doesn’t, then making the changes needed to get there. I was SO excited about your gig at Nordstrom! I could totally see you making a killing there. This isn’t fair because I wasn’t done hanging out with you and I wasn’t done being proud of your accomplishments. I was waiting for more!! I was waiting for that day when you and I would meet for lunch and you would tell me about how well your career is going and how you’ve met the love of your life. My heart aches for you and your family. Please be one of my guardian angels. I would be unstoppable with your energy around me, cousin!! I love you Kayla and I will miss you so much. I wish I could give you one last hug. Rest in Peace sweet girl.
Our condolences to her friends, family and loved ones.
Look below to see a Fox31 report on the crash and its aftermath.
