Colorado State Patrol arrested a motorcyclist who purportedly drove 142 mph in 65 mph and 75 mph zones on Interstate 25 between Larkspur and Castle Rock Thursday afternoon, according to a Friday news release from the agency. 

The rider, Matthew Galek, 27, was first seen by a Colorado State Patrol Aircraft Unit near mile post 171 in the toll lane traveling over 100 mph. The release stated he was spotted again around milepost 180 weaving across double solid white lines. 

State troopers were able to initiate a traffic stop on northbound I-25 at milepost 185, according to the release. Galek was booked into the Douglas County Jail and charged with speeding 142 mph in a 65 mph zone, reckless driving and failure to present insurance. 

“This type of reckless driving is extremely dangerous not only for the rider but for every motorist sharing the roadway,” Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said in the release. “Motorcycle riders have little protection in the event of a crash, and speed remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes across Colorado.”

While extreme speeds on I-25 are dangerous, it has not stopped several riders from doing so in recent years. 

In 2023, YouTuber Rendon Dietzmann was arrested after posting a video of himself traveling at over 175 mph from Colorado Springs to Denver in 20 minutes. According to previous reporting by The Gazette, Dietzmann was sentenced to 14 days in jail and was responsible for a $300 fine and nearly $2,000 in extradition fees.

Two motorcyclists were also stopped in 2024 for traveling along I-25 at rates of over 125 mph and 140 mph.

Shattered in seconds: 49 lives lost in Colorado Springs traffic crashes in 2024

4 pounds of meth sniffed out from vehicle in Colorado Springs