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The tractor-truck operator convicted connected respective charges connected to the April 2019 crash connected an interstate successful Colorado that killed 4 radical was sentenced successful a Jefferson County courtroom Monday.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was sentenced to 110 years successful prison.
Judge A. Bruce Jones said his hands were tied erstwhile it came to sentencing due to the fact that of mandatory minimum laws successful the state.
He sentenced Aguilera-Mederos to the minimum scope disposable to him connected each counts, which indispensable beryllium served consecutively.
On Oct. 15, a assemblage convicted Aguilera-Mederos, 26, connected 42 counts, including vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, reckless driving, and careless driving.
He was besides convicted connected aggregate counts of careless driving, reckless driving, and vehicular assault.
However, helium was recovered not blameworthy connected respective counts of attempted first-degree assault.
On April 25, 2019, helium drove a semi-truck carrying lumber connected eastbound I-70 down from the mountains into Lakewood.
He told constabulary helium had mislaid power of his brakes, and erstwhile helium encountered postulation that was stopped due to the fact that of different clang connected I-70, helium drove connected the enarthrosis earlier crashing into postulation astatine the Colorado Mills Parkway overpass.
Twenty-eight vehicles, including 4 semi-trucks, were damaged oregon caught connected occurrence successful the aftermath of the fiery crash. Investigators estimated helium was going astatine slightest 85 miles an hr conscionable earlier the crash.
Four radical died successful the clang from antithetic vehicles, and astatine slightest six others were injured, and the eastbound lanes of I-70 were closed successful the country for much than a day.
All 4 victims were Coloradans:
- Doyle Harrison, 61, of Hudson
- William Bailey, 67, of Arvada
- Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, 24, of Denver
- Stanley Politano, 69, of Arvada
Aguilera-Mederos was moving for a Houston-based trucking company astatine the time.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Aguilera-Mederos could person taken steps to forestall the deadly crash, including utilizing a runaway motortruck ramp miles earlier the crash, and that helium “made a clump of atrocious decisions” instead.
His defence attorneys claimed helium did not cognize the truck’s brakes were smoking oregon that helium would not beryllium capable to halt his vehicle, though others testified astatine the proceedings that they had seen them smoking.
Before Judge Jones handed down his sentence, household and friends of Aguilera-Mederos spoke successful enactment of the 26-year-old. His lawyer argued that his actions were a bid of negligent decisions, and helium was overwhelmed with the situation.
He contended that the justice was not bound by the mandatory-minimum sentences laws, citing erstwhile tribunal cases, and urged the justice to see a lighter sentence.
However, the justice disagreed.
Aguilera-Mederos besides took to the podium successful a tearful plea for leniency.
"I'm dying. It is hard to unrecorded with this trauma. I can't sleep. I'm reasoning each [the time] astir the victims. This was a unspeakable accident, I know. I instrumentality responsibility. But it was not intentional. I americium not a criminal," Aguilera-Mederos said.
The justice besides heard from the victims and household members, immoderate done victim-impact statements work by the prosecution.
Many of them said Aguilera-Mederos should person utilized the runaway motortruck ramp oregon veered disconnected and distant from the enactment of cars helium crashed into.
Restitution volition beryllium determined astatine a aboriginal time.
Robert Garrison astatine KMGH archetypal reported this story.
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