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Rogel Aguilera-Mederos on the left and the scene of the accident in the immediate aftermath.
Truck drivers have blocked the border of Colorado with parked vehicles – an apparent wildcat strike following the sentencing of their colleague Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a 26-year-old Cuban immigrant, to 110 years in prison.
He was charged with four counts of vehicular homicide after his truck caused a 28-vehicle pile-up in April 2019 that caused the death four Colorado residents: Doyle Harrison, 61; William Bailey, 67; Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, 24; and Stan Politano, 69; and severely injured six others.
Over the weekend, viral footage apparently shows lines of trucks blocking highways into the state, and a petition in support of Mr Aguilera-Mederos has more than 4,300,000 signatures.
Supporters claim that the trucking company that employed Mr Aguilera-Mederos, identified by The New York Times as Houston-based Castellano 03 Trucking, should be in the dock as it had failed to maintain the truck.
In 2019, US-based publication Global Trade reported that Castellano 03 Trucking operated five trucks and had been cited by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for 30 safety violations during 19 inspections in the preceding two years.
Mr Aguilera-Mederos, who had a clean driving licence, also faced 23 additional charges, including six counts of assault in the first degree, 10 of attempting to commit assault in the first degree, two counts of vehicular assault and one of reckless driving.
In a statement to investigators at the time, he said he had been travelling at 85 mph downhill when the brakes failed and, although he tried to pull over onto the hard shoulder to avoid the cars, there was already a truck occupying the space.
His supporters argue that the trucking company, not Mr. Aguilera-Mederos, that should face legal action – either on the basis that a mechanical failure was allegedly likely due to company negligence, or in that the accident resulted from his lack of experience and poor training.
While these charges would not normally merit such a long sentence, the ruling was subject to state mandatory-minimum laws: “If I had the discretion, I would not run those sentences consecutively,” presiding Judge A Bruce Jones told news stations. “I accept and respect what the defendant has said about his lack of intent to hurt people, but he made a series of terrible decisions, reckless decisions.”
Comment on this article
Theresa Brownfield
December 23, 2021 at 11:22 amHe refused the plea deal his attorney begged him to take. Additionally, he was seen driving recklessly and speeding before his brakes supposedly gave out and he testified that he wasn’t “brave enough” to use the SEVERAL emergency off ramps he sped by and instead CHOSE to pass them by and crash into heavy traffic. That is an INTENTIONAL ACT. I’m a retired colorado police officer and currently a freight train conductor. In Colorado multiple sentences are required to be served concurrently, it’s the law. He got 20 years for each person he killed who burned alive trapped in their cars. I have no pity for him and no one else should either.
Not to mention he was a licensed CDL driver which means he was REQUIRED to be able to read traffic signs in English and he must be able to since he passed his written CDL AND he wasn’t mountain certified, which he is supposed to be in Colorado AND he’s responsible for his pre-trip inspection and if the truck had problems it’s his responsibility to refuse to take the truck.
No one should pity this guy. No one.
Theresa Brownfield
December 23, 2021 at 11:22 amHe refused the plea deal his attorney begged him to take. Additionally, he was seen driving recklessly and speeding before his brakes supposedly gave out and he testified that he wasn’t “brave enough” to use the SEVERAL emergency off ramps he sped by and instead CHOSE to pass them by and crash into heavy traffic. That is an INTENTIONAL ACT. I’m a retired colorado police officer and currently a freight train conductor. In Colorado multiple sentences are required to be served concurrently, it’s the law. He got 20 years for each person he killed who burned alive trapped in their cars. I have no pity for him and no one else should either.
Not to mention he was a licensed CDL driver which means he was REQUIRED to be able to read traffic signs in English and he must be able to since he passed his written CDL AND he wasn’t mountain certified, which he is supposed to be in Colorado AND he’s responsible for his pre-trip inspection and if the truck had problems it’s his responsibility to refuse to take the truck.
Theresa Brownfield
December 23, 2021 at 11:25 amHe tried to claim he couldn’t read the traffic signs because they were in English, but he passed the written CDL test which requires that you be able to read all traffic signs and directions in English. Sorry, but he’s got no excuse.