A Douglas County Sheriff's Office traffic deputy was standing on the side of Interstate 25 when an intoxicated driver swerved recklessly across three lanes of traffic and nearly struck the deputy at full speed, according to the agency. The driver, identified only as a Wyoming resident, then veered onto the shoulder before continuing up the highway, deputies say.
Deputies caught up with the driver and arrested him on multiple charges after determining he was intoxicated, according to a post from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Facebook. Inside the truck, deputies reported finding open cans of beer and a loaded pistol. The sheriff's office says Douglas County maintains a policy of catching drivers who drive drunk and characterized the arrest as another dangerous driver taken off the streets.
Why Passing a Stopped Deputy at Full Speed Is a Serious Violation
Colorado's Move Over law, codified at C.R.S. § 42-4-705, requires drivers on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher — including I-25 — to shift over at least one lane when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights, or to slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit if changing lanes isn't safe, according to Denver Traffic Lawyer. The law was expanded in August 2023 under House Bill 23-1123 to cover any stationary disabled vehicle with hazard lights on, not just emergency responders, per the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The statute carries deep local weight in Douglas County. It was originally named the Move Over for Cody Act after Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle in November 2016 while standing on the shoulder of I-25 in Douglas County, according to Denver Criminal Lawyer. In September 2022, a Douglas County deputy was hit inside his own patrol vehicle while stopped with emergency lights on along Lincoln Avenue, struck by a suspected drunk driver in a pickup truck.
Loaded Gun While Intoxicated Adds a Separate Criminal Charge
Beyond DUI-related charges, carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is itself a Class 1 misdemeanor under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-12-106, punishable by up to 364 days in county jail and fines up to $1,000, regardless of whether the weapon is loaded or concealed, according to FindLaw. That statute applies whether or not the gun is fired or brandished, meaning the loaded pistol found in the truck adds a distinct layer of criminal exposure on top of the impaired driving allegations.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Highway Interdictions
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly and local prosecutors have taken an aggressive, zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving, deploying dedicated traffic units along major corridors including I-25, the sheriff's office has said. Last September, deputies working alongside the Colorado State Patrol used Grappler vehicle intervention technology near Castle Pines to safely stop an erratic driver traveling 75 mph — an incident Hoodline covered in detail at the time.
The arrest also lands during what the Colorado Department of Transportation identifies as a peak season for impaired driving. Late summer, including August, typically sees a spike in alcohol- and drug-related crashes, prompting the state's ongoing “The Heat Is On” high-visibility enforcement campaign, according to The Prowers Journal. Statewide, 236 of Colorado's 715 traffic fatalities in 2025 involved an impaired driver, a 9.7% increase over the prior year, per CDOT figures. Impaired drivers were involved in 34% of all Colorado traffic deaths that year, above the 30% national average reported by federal highway safety regulators.
