“I Just Held the Blanket”: A Bystander’s Painful Witness to a Fatal Motorcycle Crash on Austin Bluffs
Colorado Springs, CO – June 30, 2025 – Saturday evening felt like any other until it was not.
Stephanie Ross Montel was driving down Austin Bluffs Parkway, just a little past the Barnes intersection, when life changed right before her eyes. What was meant to be a typical drive turned into a tragic moment she says will haunt her forever.
She was not expecting to see a motorcycle crash. And she certainly wasn’t expecting to be the one standing there with nothing to offer but a blanket and a prayer.
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“I just saw two people die right in front of me,” Stephanie later wrote on Facebook, her voice cracking through typed words.
A Scene No One Should Ever Witness
Stephanie had been following behind a motorcycle when the crash happened. She did not see how it started. But what she did see was the terrible end. The bike went down fast and the two riders were thrown.
Being CPR certified, her first instinct was to jump in and help. That is exactly what she tried to do. “I ran toward them, hoping maybe I could do something,” she shared. “But there was nothing. They were just gone.
” She did not know who they were. She had not even seen their faces before. But in that moment, none of that mattered. “I held a blanket around them,” she wrote. “And I prayed. I stayed until the ambulance came.”
That is All She Could Do, Stay
When the paramedics arrived and pulled out the white sheets, Stephanie’s heart sank. “I felt so sick. Just… sick,” she wrote. There was nothing she could do except be present silent, respectful, heartbroken. And for many in the Colorado Springs community, her presence meant more than she may ever realize.
“You gave them dignity,” one person commented on her post. “You did not let them be alone.” “You stood by them when others would have walked away.”
Her post spread quickly. People felt her words. They saw themselves in that moment, and it broke them too.
A Call for Caution: “Please Slow Down”
Stephanie’s post was not just about what she saw. It was also a heartfelt plea for people to be more careful. One witness at the scene reportedly told her the motorcycle had been going at least 80 mph. That’s not confirmed by police yet, but it’s believed speed played a major role.
“Please slow down,” Stephanie begged. “Be safe. Wear your helmet.”
Her message was not loud. It was not full of blame or anger. It was simple and honest, the kind that sticks with you longer than any warning sign.
A Stretch of Road Locals Worry About
Austin Bluffs Parkway has long been considered one of the city’s more dangerous stretches, especially past Barnes Road. Many in the area say they’ve watched cars and bikes fly by far above the speed limit like it is a racetrack, not a residential corridor.
“Every day I hear engines tearing down that road,” a local resident told us. “Now two people are gone. And for what?”
The crash has reignited concerns about traffic enforcement and visibility in the area. Several neighbors are even calling for speed bumps or more patrols. “It is not just about this crash,” another neighbor said. “It is about every near-miss that happens here.”
Police Still Investigating
As of this writing, authorities have not publicly identified the two victims. Police say they are still piecing together what happened in the moments before the crash. Toxicology reports and speed analysis are underway.
It is unclear if another vehicle may have been involved, or if it was a loss of control at high speed.
Stephanie’s Silence Since That Night
Stephanie has not posted again on Facebook since sharing her story that evening. And maybe she does not need to. Her are emotional, and honest—have already traveled far and touched hundreds of hearts.
“You were their comfort,” someone commented. “You were a stranger, but you made sure they weren’t alone.” “Thank you for not looking away.”
In a world where people often pull out phones instead of offering help, Stephanie simply knelt down, held a blanket, and prayed. She didn’t know them. But in those final moments, she gave them something no ambulance or siren could. She gave them humanity.
