Wrong-Way Driver Arrested After Causing Multiple Crashes on Interstate 25

A 30-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after leading Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputies on a dangerous pursuit that included driving the wrong way on Interstate 25 and causing several crashes near Loveland on September 15.

Thomas Mazza was arrested following the incident that began around 12:30 p.m. when deputies attempted to stop his vehicle for traffic violations in south Loveland. When Mazza refused to stop, he began driving recklessly and entered the northbound lanes of I-25 while traveling south, forcing multiple vehicles to crash as drivers swerved to avoid a head-on collision.

Deputies ended the pursuit using a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver, a law enforcement tactic where officers use their vehicle to make intentional contact with a fleeing vehicle to force it to stop. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office formally trains deputies in this technique and requires annual recertification in its proper use, according to department protocols.

A motorcyclist crashed while attempting to avoid Mazza's vehicle and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The rider has since been released. Another adult passenger in Mazza's vehicle was uninjured and released at the scene. Interstate 25 was temporarily closed during the investigation and evidence collection.

Mazza was booked on multiple charges including Vehicular Eluding resulting in bodily injury to another, a class 4 felony that carries penalties of two to six years in prison and fines ranging from $4,000 to $500,000 under Colorado law. He also faces a second count of vehicular eluding as a class 5 felony, five counts of attempted criminally negligent homicide, false imprisonment, driving under the influence of drugs, and a domestic violence enhancer.

The domestic violence enhancer, applied when alleged crimes involve intimate partners, triggers additional consequences including mandatory supervised probation, required completion of domestic violence treatment programs, and loss of firearm rights upon conviction. In Colorado, domestic violence functions as a sentence enhancer rather than a standalone charge.

During Mazza's court hearing, prosecutors noted he was already out on bond for two other pending cases. The District Attorney's Office requested a $100,000 cash-only bond, which the court approved. A cash-only bond requires the full amount to be paid in cash directly to the court with no option for bail bond services or property collateral, typically imposed when judges determine there is high flight risk or concerns about repeated dangerous behavior.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information or video evidence of the incident to contact Investigator Travis Fischer at (970) 498-5585. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or online at stopcriminals.org.

The charges against Mazza are allegations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.