An autopsy report released Tuesday revealed Dominiq Ponder had a blood alcohol limit more than twice the legal limit when he lost control of his 2023 Tesla and struck a utility pole in a fatal accident on March 1.
The details released by the Boulder County Coroner’s office showed Ponder, a 23-year-old who played two games as a quarterback at Colorado in 2025, had a blood alcohol level of .167. The legal limit in Colorado is .08.
A Florida native who transferred from Bethune-Cookman, Ponder’s family said the Dominiq Ponder 7/22 Foundation was established to “provide support to student-athletes, children’s hospitals and families dealing with medical challenges, and assist with responsible decision-making.”
Ponder died from “multiple blunt force injuries,” the report said. His vehicle slid down an embankment after striking the electric pole and responders pronounced Ponder dead at the scene of the accident.
State police in Colorado said an investigation into additional details of the accident, including whether Ponder was distract, the speed he was traveling at the time, other factors causing impairment, was not yet complete.
