Colorado Man Arrested After Pursuit Through Casper on I-25

An Aurora, Colorado man was arrested late Friday after leading authorities on a chase southbound on Interstate 25.

Michael Andrea Tyler Hernandez, 20, was booked into jail on recommended charges of eluding, reckless driving, larceny, grand larceny, drug possession, and driving while under the influence. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Monday.

According to an affidavit filed by a Natrona County Sheriff's deputy, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper initially tried to stop a flatbed Dodge truck with Montana registration shortly after 11 p.m. Friday. The Dodge, allegedly driven by Hernandez, was southbound on I-25 near milepost 191.

Over the radio, the deputy heard the trooper discontinue his pursuit due to safety concerns, as the Dodge had continued into a construction zone near milepost 188 at a high rate of speed.

The deputy, who was headed south on Center Street, saw the Dodge cross the overpass at a high rate of speed. The deputy then got onto I-25, where he estimated the Dodge to be traveling at 65 mph in a 45-mph speed zone.

Hernandez allegedly drove dangerously close behind other vehicles on the interstate. The deputy tried to stay behind two other drivers in order to remain hidden from Hernandez's view.

After a short amount of time, the Dodge began to pass vehicles on the right-hand side of the right lane, inside the narrow construction zone. As the Dodge pushed past on the right shoulder, other drivers were forced to make rapid, unsafe maneuvers to avoid a collision.

The deputy activated his overhead lights, following Hernandez as the Dodge hit the concrete barrier which separated the southbound lane of I-25 and the Beverly Street off-ramp. When the deputy turned his lights on, the Dodge immediately accelerated, continuing southbound at an estimated 90 mph, still inside the construction zone.

Turning on his siren, the deputy tried to keep up with the Dodge, but couldn't surpass 94 mph in his patrol vehicle. Hernandez was then traveling at an estimated 105-110 mph, per the affidavit.

Due to the excessive speed, the deputy requested assistance from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and terminated his role in the pursuit.

The trooper who had initially tried to stop the Dodge used his patrol vehicle to perform a pit maneuver and stop Hernandez near milepost 153.

The deputy's affidavit does not include further details pertaining to the recommended charges of larceny, drug possession and DWUI. It is possible that those allegations may be detailed in a separate affidavit from the Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper who ultimately stopped Hernandez.