2019 Lakewood semi-truck crash
| 2019 Lakewood semi-truck crash | |
|---|---|
   | |
| Details | |
| Date | April 25, 2019 4:45 PM MDT |
| Location | I-70 and Denver West Marriott Blvd. in Lakewood |
| Coordinates | 39°44′24″N 105°09′32″W / 39.739995°N 105.158912°W |
| Country | United States |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 10 |
On April 25, 2019, a deadly traffic collision occurred on Interstate 70 near Lakewood, Colorado, when a semi-trailer truck's brakes malfunctioned, causing the truck to crash into 12 cars and three other semi-trailer trucks, resulting in multiple fires and explosions. Four people died in the crash. The truck was driven by Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, who was later convicted of vehicular homicide.
Incident
Precursor crash
Just after 4:00 p.m. MDT, an unrelated semi-trailer truck crashed into a Jefferson County Public Schools School bus on Interstate 70 at the Ward Road exit causing 10 injuries.[1] This caused Interstate 70 to be closed eastbound from Ward Road (Exit 266) to Kipling Street (Exit 267),[2] causing heavy backups all the way to Colorado Mills Parkway (Exit 263). About 30 minutes later, all but the far left lane remained closed, continuing congestion into Colorado Mills Parkway.[3]
Main crash
On the afternoon of April 25, Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos was driving a semi-trailer truck carrying lumber on eastbound Interstate 70. Around 4:30 p.m. MDT, Aguilera-Mederos lost control of his semi-trailer truck when his brakes malfunctioned while going down a mountainous stretch of Interstate 70. Aguilera-Mederos was first reported speeding as he passed Genesee (Exit 254).[4] After passing the Genesee exit, Aguilera-Mederos's truck began to smoke as he passed a runaway truck ramp, without taking it, then passing the next exit.[5] For the next few minutes, Aguilera-Mederos reached speeds upwards of 100 mph[6] and passed the next four exits.
As Aguilera-Mederos approached Colorado Mills Parkway, he tried to move the truck to the right shoulder to avoid colliding with stopped traffic caused by the precursor bus crash, but quickly swerved back into traffic when another semi-trailer truck was already in the right shoulder. Moments later, Aguilera-Mederos's truck was seen speeding past a driver who was livestreaming while stopped at Colorado Mills Parkway (Exit 263).[7] Seconds after speeding past the livestreamer, Aguilera-Mederos crashed his semi-trailer truck into three other semi-trailer trucks and 12 vehicles.[8] The lumber from Aguilera-Mederos's semi-trailer, combined with the gasoline from the smashed cars, and the mattresses carried by a Beautyrest semi-trailer truck, created quick fuel for the fire to ignite and then quickly explode.[9]
Within seconds of Aguilera-Mederos's semi exploding, eastbound cars quickly drove over the median and into the Colorado Mills Parkway exit, causing immediate congestion.[7] The first call went to Lakewood Emergency Officials around 4:50 p.m.[8] Interstate 70 was officially closed eastbound and westbound at Colorado Mills Parkway by the Colorado Department of Transportation at 5:03 p.m.[10] Interstate 70 would later be closed from Exit 261 to Exit 265 at 6:24 p.m.[11] The fire wasn't fully under control and able to be investigated until 10 p.m. that night.[12] Interstate 70 remained closed through the night and reopened at 8:20 p.m. on April 26.[13]
Aftermath
Four people were killed in the crash, all residents of Colorado: Doyle Harrison (aged 61), William Bailey (aged 67), Stanley Politano (aged 69), and Miguel Lamas Arrellano (aged 24).[14]
Aguilera-Mederos survived the crash with no injuries and was booked into the Jefferson County jail the following morning, arrested on various charges related to the incident. Aguilera-Mederos was initially under investigation for vehicular manslaughter but on May 3, 2019, the charges were revised to 40 different ones, including six counts of first degree assault and 24 counts of attempted first degree assault.[12]
Since at least summer 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been considering plans for an additional runaway truck ramp east (downhill) of the Mt. Vernon site.[15][16] In November 2021, CDOT launched a survey, now closed, to solicit input on ramp design and placement.[17]
Trial
Aguilera-Mederos's claim that his brakes failed to work could not be fully investigated due to the semi being completely destroyed in the flames.[12] The company Aguilera-Mederos was working for, Castellano 03 Trucking LLC, received 30 safety violations in the two years before the crash. Some of the violations included not being able to understand English highway signs.[12] Interstate 70 in Colorado contains many signs, only in English, between Genesee and Colorado Mills Parkway warning truckers of the steep grades, sharp curves, gear shifts, and locations of runaway truck ramps.[18]
On November 21, 2019, Aguilera-Mederos's attorney, Rob Corry, attempted to enter a motion to disqualify the state's prosecutors; but the judge denied the request,[4] at which point Aguilera-Mederos pleaded not guilty.[4]
Aguilera-Mederos's trial began on September 28, 2021.[19] On October 25, 2021, a jury found Aguilera-Mederos guilty of four counts of vehicular homicide.[20] He was sentenced to 110 years in prison by a judge in Jefferson County, though the judge noted that 110 years was the minimum sentence for the crimes which Aguilera-Mederos had been convicted of. Aguilera-Mederos's attorneys disputed this, claiming that the minimum sentence in the case could be twenty years[21] and that they intended to appeal the sentence.[22]
Reactions
The 110-year prison sentence for Aguilera-Mederos was met with significant, but not unanimous, backlash.
Mark Silverstein, the legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, described the sentence as "grossly excessive". Silverstein criticized the prosecution, claiming that they overcharged Aguilera-Mederos to attempt to get him to plead guilty.[23] In contrast, George Brauchler, who previously served as a district attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District, disagreed, stating that he has "little sympathy for someone who turns down a reasonable plea bargain offer, and then goes to trial and bemoans the fact that the worst thing that could happen to them happened" and that the sentence was reasonable given that Aguilera-Mederos killed four people.[23]
Over three million people signed a Change.org petition asking that either his sentence be commuted or he be granted clemency by Colorado governor Jared Polis. The petition agrees the accident was tragic and claims that the trucking company should be held liable for the accident instead of Aguilera-Mederos. Polis's office released an initial statement regarding clemency for Aguilera-Mederos: "We are aware of this issue, the Governor and his team review each clemency application individually."[14] The Denver Post editorial board also called for a commuted sentence.[24] The harsh sentence also generated an outcry from the Latino community, led by LULAC[25] and the trucking community, with some drivers talking of boycotting the state.[26][27]
References
- ^ "School Bus Crash Shut Down Lanes Of I-70 At Ward Road". 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ CDOT (2019-04-25). "I-70 EB: Road closed between Exit 266 - CO 72; Ward Rd and Exit 267 - CO 391; Kipling St. All lanes blocked eastbound due to crash, use alternate route (Ward)". @ColoradoDOT. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ CDOT (2019-04-25). "I-70 EB: Crash between Exit 266 - CO 72; Ward Rd and Exit 267 - CO 391; Kipling St. Right lanes blocked, left lane is open, expect delays". @ColoradoDOT. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ a b c "Truck driver in deadly I-70 crash pleads not guilty". KMGH. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ I70 Colorado accident before the accident, retrieved 2020-01-06
- ^ "'My deepest condolences to the families': I-70 crash suspect shares Facebook message after posting bond". KUSA. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ a b 🔴 LIVE I70 Lakewood Colorado Huge Crash Burger Planet IRL Streams, retrieved 2020-01-06
- ^ a b "Multiple people dead in fiery crash near Colorado Mills Parkway; I-70 closed eastbound". The Denver Post. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ "At least four people confirmed dead in 28-vehicle crash on Interstate 70, near Denver West. Highway reopens in both directions". The Denver Post. 2019-04-26. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ CDOT (2019-04-25). "I-70 EB/WB: Road closed at Exit 262 - US 40; Colfax Ave. Large vehicle fire. Road blocked both directions for safety concerns. Expect long delays". @ColoradoDOT. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ CDOT (2019-04-25). "I-70 EB/WB: Road closed between Exit 261 - US 6; 6th Ave and Exit 265 - CO 58. Closed both directions CO-58 to 6th Ave, alternate routes include Colfax, 6th Avenue, or C-470. Long delays expected". @ColoradoDOT. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ a b c d "Semi driver formally charged after deadly I-70 crash". KMGH. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ CDOT (2019-04-26). "I-70 EB: Road open between Exit 261 - US 6; 6th Ave and Exit 264 - 32nd Ave. Eastbound I-70 is completely open following crash cleanup/investigation". @ColoradoDOT. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ a b Lenthang, Marlene; Helsel, Phil (December 17, 2021). "Over 3 million sign petition to change 110-year jail sentence of truck driver in crash that killed 4". NBC News. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "CDOT considering additional runaway truck ramp on I-70 near Denver". FOX31 Denver. 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "CDOT: Plans underway for new runaway truck ramps on I-70 toward Denver". FOX31 Denver. 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ Patton, Wimberly (2021-11-22). "CDOT conducting runaway ramp survey in response to fiery, 28-vehicle pileup crash caused by rookie driver". CDLLife. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "I-70's 'Don't be fooled' signs installed after 1989 runaway truck crash". KUSA. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ Sallinger, Rick (September 28, 2021). "Opening Statements Begin In Rogel Aguilera-Mederos Trial For 2019 Deadly I-70 Semi Crash". KCNC-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ McRae, Jennifer (October 15, 2021). "Jury Finds Rogel Aguilera-Mederos Guilty On 4 Counts Vehicular Homicide, Other Charges In 2019 Deadly I-70 Semi Crash". KCNC-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Morfitt, Karen (December 13, 2021). "Judge Sentences Rogel Aguilera-Mederos To 110 Years In Prison For Fiery I-70 Crash". KCNC-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Sallinger, Rick (16 December 2021). "110 Years In Prison: Appeal Planned For Truck Driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos Convicted in Crash That Killed 4 On I-70". KCNC-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Bradbury, Shelly (December 16, 2021). "Trucker's 110-year sentence in fatal I-70 crash spotlights Colorado sentencing laws, prosecutors' charging decisions". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Editorial Board, Denver Post (2021-12-15). "Editorial: Jared Polis, commute part of the 110-year sentence for Aguilera-Mederos". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Roberts, Michael. "Trucker Given 110 Years for Fatal Crash Innocent, Deserves Pardon, LULAC Says". Westword. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos: Truckers boycott Colorado in viral TikTok videos over sentencing". meaww.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ Edwards, Chelsea (2021-12-19). "Could Texas trucking be affected by Colorado boycott after trucker sentenced to 110 years?". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved 2021-12-20.