Larimer County
Man sentenced to 22 years for I-25 wrong-way pursuit near Berthoud
Mazza pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class four felony, Eluding with Injury, a class four felony, and Driving Under the Influence, a class one misdemeanor.
Thomas Edward Mazza was sentenced to 22 years in the Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a September 2025 pursuit that included wrong-way driving on Interstate 25 near Berthoud, the Larimer County District Attorney's Office said.
Mazza pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class four felony, Eluding with Injury, a class four felony, and Driving Under the Influence, a class one misdemeanor.
On Sept. 15, 2025, Larimer County Sheriff's deputies tried to stop a vehicle that was weaving between lanes and had mismatched plates. Mazza drove at excessive speeds to elude the deputies instead of complying with the traffic stop. At around 12:30 p.m., he drove south onto northbound I-25 in a construction zone near Berthoud.
Mazza's driving led to five separate collisions, and the pursuit ended with a high-risk stop conducted by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. He passed over 200 vehicles, put many community members at risk and caused minor injuries to a motorcyclist, the district attorney's office said.
The judge described the case as extraordinary and said it had a profound impact on the many lives affected. The judge said the terror experienced by those affected would never leave them.
The deputy who investigated the case told the court during sentencing that it was the most egregious example of eluding the deputy had witnessed.
"Eluding law enforcement is extremely reckless and puts innocent lives in danger," District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin said. McLaughlin said Mazza's conduct was extreme.