Falcon, Colorado resident Garrett Dean Neugebauer, 42, received 24 years in the Department of Corrections (DOC) recently for repeat DUI offenses culminating in a fire on I-25.

On October 23, 2014, Neugebauer was convicted on two separate counts of attempted first-degree assault with extreme indifference, a single count of vehicular eluding with injury, and a count of leaving the scene of a traffic accident.

Neugebauer was currently serving probation on a 2012 Larimer County alcohol-related incident, along with three previous alcohol-related incidents with the October 23rd incident becoming his fourth DUI-related offense. He was also wanted in Otero County for another traffic-related incident at the time of arrest.

According to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Offense, his fifth offense came on February 6, 2015, when Neugebauer was attending a business dinner in Denver, then drove home drunk in El Paso County.

Around 9:35 PM, a witness reported the defendant driving over curbs, nearly hitting two cars, and driving on the wrong side of the road near Debbie Lane and Castle Pines Parkway.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) was able to locate the defendant and when attempting to pull him over near North Castleton Drive, Neugebauer responded by driving into a gas station, slowing down, then accelerating to get away. When fleeing the scene, he struck a sedan at a stop sign.

From there, the DCSO began a pursuit of the defendant on southbound I-25 as he cut in and out of traffic and at some points was reported to be going more than 100 MPH. After striking vehicles at the Plum Creek Parkway interchange, including a car with two passengers inside forcing them to go upwards of 900 MPH while braking, the DCSO utilized stop sticks and blew out Neugebauer’s front right tire.

Neugebauer continued driving for two to three miles before sparks from that tire started a 579’ brush fire between mile markers 177 and 178. Continuing to Drive, the defendant pulled into a parking lot between Wilcox Street and Plum Creek Parkway. He refused to follow DCSO instructions after the stop.

At the time, the defendant’s blood alcohol content came in at .269, which is over three times the legal limit in Colorado.

Deputy District Attorney Megan Rasband stated about Neugebauer’s case: “The message to the community is clear: Drunk driving will result in serious consequences in Douglas County.”

Credit: KDVR