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FORT MORGAN, Colo. – A Colorado State Patrol trooper intentionally rammed a wrong-way vehicle on Interstate 76 early Sunday morning, a maneuver that officials say likely prevented a catastrophic head-on crash with multiple other motorists.
The incident unfolded around 2:45 a.m. Sunday when dispatchers received multiple 911 calls about a red Honda HR-V driving eastbound in the westbound lanes near mile marker 82. Trooper Jake Martinez, a 10-year veteran, located the vehicle and, after determining that traditional traffic stops were impossible due to the high speed and oncoming traffic, used his patrol SUV to gently nudge the Honda off the roadway and into a dirt median, bringing it to a controlled stop.
“This was a textbook application of our precision immobilization technique, but modified for a wrong-way scenario,” said CSP Captain Sarah Lindstrom in a Monday press conference. “The trooper’s quick thinking and training saved lives – possibly dozens of them.”
The driver, 34-year-old Michael Torres of Sterling, was taken into custody without further incident. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $100,000 bond, charged with DUI (second offense), reckless driving, vehicular assault, and eluding police. A preliminary breath test allegedly showed a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit. Torres is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Trooper Martinez was treated at the scene for minor abrasions and a possible concussion, then released. He is expected to return to duty later this week.
New details released Monday: Body camera footage from the trooper’s cruiser shows Martinez pacing the wrong-way driver for several seconds before making a deliberate, low-speed impact. The driver’s vehicle spun 180 degrees and came to rest against a guardrail. No other vehicles were involved.
“This is exactly the kind of intervention we train for – minimizing harm while maximizing safety for everyone else on the road,” said Dr. Emily Chen, a traffic safety researcher at the University of Colorado Denver. “National statistics show wrong-way crashes are rare but disproportionately deadly, with about 400 fatalities per year in the U.S. A proactive stop like this can change the outcome entirely.”
The Colorado State Patrol is now reviewing the incident as a “use of force” case, which is standard procedure for any intentional vehicle strike. Experts say the tactic is lawful when officers face an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the public.
Public reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive. Social media posts praising the trooper’s bravery have thousands of shares. Some commenters, however, questioned whether the maneuver could have gone wrong. “We understand the concern, but in this case the trooper executed a controlled, low-speed nudge, not a high-speed pit maneuver,” Lindstrom explained. “The risk of doing nothing – a head-on collision at highway speeds – was far greater.”
The investigation is ongoing. The Colorado State Patrol urges anyone with additional information about the incident to contact their Fort Morgan office.
Wrong-way driving remains a persistent challenge on Colorado highways. In 2024, the state recorded 14 wrong-way-related fatalities, a 20% increase from the previous year. Authorities have deployed thermal cameras and enhanced signage at high-risk interchanges, but driver impairment remains the leading cause, accounting for nearly 60% of wrong-way incidents.
“We’re constantly evaluating new technologies and tactics,” said Lindstrom. “But sometimes, the most effective tool is a well-trained officer willing to make a split-second decision to protect the public.”
