Autopsy results for University of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder have been released following his death in a car accident last month.
Ponder had double the legal limit of alcohol in his system when he crashed his car and died in a single-car accident in Boulder, Colorado on March 1, according to a report obtained by USA Today Sports on Monday, April 6. He was 23 years old.
The quarterback’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries in an accident, according to the report from the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.
“The deceased was a restrained driver involved in a single vehicle collision at a high rate of speed,” the report said.
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According to the Colorado State Patrol, Ponder lost control of his Tesla, hit an electrical pole and flipped the vehicle at least once.
In response to the autopsy results, Ponder’s family has launched the 722 Foundation to “support student athletes, children’s hospitals, families facing medical challenges and promote responsible decision-making.”
According to the organization’s GoFund Me page, the money raised by the 722 Foundation “will go directly toward scholarships for student athletes who demonstrate resilience and character, community awareness initiatives about responsible decision-making and support for children’s hospitals. By helping launch these programs, donors will be providing immediate assistance to those in need and helping to build a lasting legacy in Dominiq’s name.”
Ponder’s mother, Catrina Hughes, said that she hopes the organization can inspire young adults to make “good choices even in ordinary moments.”
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“A big part of his legacy will be to encourage young people to please make responsible choices and to have the courage to step in for their friends when one of them isn’t thinking clearly for themselves,” she told USA Today. “Kids need to know that it’s OK to step in, take keys, call a ride, call a parent, speak up, do anything you can do, one small decision can save a life. Don’t be afraid even if it’s uncomfortable. A difficult conversation is easier than a lifetime of loss.”
Hughes wants her late son to be remembered as “a determined student-athlete, a leader and someone with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family, his teammates and the game of football.”
She added, “Hopefully someone will learn from this and we can save some lives.”
Ponder died the day before Colorado opened spring practice. The backup quarterback appeared in two games during his sophomore season in 2025.
