DENVER (KDVR) — A motorcyclist was arrested after a Colorado State Patrol aircraft clocked the rider allegedly traveling 142 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 25, said the agency.
CSP said on Thursday, at around 2:45 p.m., troopers flying in the patrol airplane first located the motorcyclist allegedly “traveling at an extremely high rate of speed” near milepost 171 on northbound I-25 between Larkspur and Castle Rock.
Initially, the aircraft estimated that the motorcyclist was traveling over 100 mph and later relocated the motorcyclist near milepost 180, where the rider was allegedly weaving through traffic, said the agency.
At around that time, the aircraft used its visual average speed computer and recorder system, which the motorcyclist was allegedly clocked at “142 miles per hour in a posted 75-mph zone and as it entered a 65-mph construction zone.”
CSP said its ground troopers were directed to the motorcyclist and initiated a traffic stop on I-25, where the alleged rider, who has been identified as Matthew Galek, 27, was arrested.
“This type of reckless driving is extremely dangerous not only for the rider but for every motorist sharing the roadway,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in a release. “Motorcycle riders have little protection in the event of a crash, and speed remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes across Colorado. Even at normal, highway speeds, a single mistake can mean tragedy for the rider and everyone around them.”
The agency said Galek was arrested on the following charges:
- Speeding 142 mph in a 65 mph zone
- Reckless driving
- Failure to present insurance
CSP said that Galek was booked into Douglas County Jail, and also noted in the press release a reminder to drivers, “that speed is a leading contributing factor in traffic fatalities,” and it puts “lives at unnecessary risk.”
According to court records, Galek is scheduled to appear in court next on Oct. 8.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
