Man Fleeing Police Drives On Rims, Sparks Brush Fire Near Castle Rock
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - A brush fire was started by a suspected drunk driver who crashed into four cars during a police chase on Friday night.
The wild chase started when a motorist alerted police after seeing a truck weaving on southbound Interstate 25 at Castle Pines Parkway.
"A citizen had called in basically saying that they saw what they believed to be a driver under the influence of alcohol driving on the roadway, driving erratically," Sgt. Ron Hanavan with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies say the truck driver exited I-25 at Meadows Founders Parkway and crashed into another driver in a parking lot. The suspect then drove back onto I-25, smashed into three other vehicles and kept going.
At Tomah Road the suspect made a U-turn.
"He went back into northbound on I-25. We were able to deploy stop sticks around that location, which was successful," Hanavan said.
As the driver continued going with blown tires, sparks from the rims ignited flames in the dry grass on the side of the road.
It wasn't until the driver got off I-25 at Castle Rock's Plum Creek exit that deputies were able to box him in.
The suspected drunk driver was rushed to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other crash victims were also transported to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Hanavan says the crash sends a message.
"Don't drink and drive. There's really no excuse to drink and drive. There's a lot of opportunity for you to plan better, whether that's having somebody else be a designated driver, or individuals come and pick you up, or some type of paid transportation," he said.
Police have identified the driver as Garrett Neugebauer, 41, of Peyton. He faces 18 charges.
A background check shows that Neugebauer has a lengthy history of prior DUIs and other criminal charges.
The quarter-acre brush fire was quickly contained.