Trucker's 110-year sentence draws outcry, clemency calls

Associated Press ^ | 12/22/2021 | Colleen Slevin

[4Runner]

DENVER (AP) — Relatives, lawmakers and other supporters of a trucker sentenced to 110 years in prison after an explosive brake-failure accident that left four people dead rallied in Denver Wednesday to plead for clemency. Supporters of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos say the sentence is deeply unjust and truck drivers around the country have taken up his cause, using hashtags like #NoTrucksToColorado and #NoTrucksColorado. Speaking at the rally at the state Capitol, Leonard Martinez, one of the lawyers representing Aguilera-Mederos, said the injustice of such long sentences needs to be addressed, both by reforming sentencing laws but also looking at the actions of prosecutors and judges.

[4Runner]

There's a lot of Hispanic truckers driving on U.S. roads today. Many are from Mexico, as are their rigs, the ones with "faulty brakes". So it stands to reason they want the actions of U.S. prosecutors and judges "looked at".

[Drew68]

There's a lot of Hispanic truckers driving on U.S. roads today. Many are from Mexico, as are their rigs, the ones with "faulty brakes". So it stands to reason they want the actions of U.S. prosecutors and judges "looked at".

This driver was a naturalized citizen from Cuba. 110 years seems excessive, far longer that a typical DUI fatality conviction. About ten times as long.

[Guenevere]

The people he hit burned to death

[BenLurkin]

He killed four people.

Four.

[Track9]

Whatever the RAT lawyers guild is for. I’m against. Tort reform is more important and cost savings to the public.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

As I remember he did a bunch of stuff wrong. I will have to look up the article I read about it but it was more then a simple break failure.

[Apparatchik]

Drove his truck at double the speed limit, burned up his brakes on a steep downhill, then plowed the truck into other cars to stop himself, killing 4 people.

He’s lucky he didn’t get the Chair - it would be a fitting punishment.

[alternatives?]

My recollection was there were others injured and he had options he didn’t use for slowing down before plowing into the back of other vehicles. It does seem like too much time however although I am not sure how soon he will be eligible for parole.

[Reno89519]

The illegal got what he deserved.

[4Runner]

I didn’t see any of the info you just posted re the driver, in the AP report. What is your source?

[CodeToad]

This a**hole was driving dangerously in the mountains coming down the hill. He was screwing around and ended up killing people. He deserves the death penalty.

[hercuroc]

Bet the black terrorist in Waukesha gets less and he killed more.

[Brian Griffin]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Lakewood_semi-truck_crash

https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/trucking-company-connected-to-i-70-crash-has-history-of-safety-issues-involving-brakes/73-18e8ce1f-5486-4dc8-828c-e52b3fdd6239

[daniel1212]

"There's a lot of Hispanic truckers driving on U.S. roads today. Many are from Mexico, as are their rigs, the ones with "faulty brakes". So it stands to reason they want the actions of U.S. prosecutors and judges "looked at"."

What percentage of truck drivers own their own trucks? What is an independent owner operator? Simply put, anyone who owns a semi truck and is driving freight either under their own authority or in a leased truck under contract with a freight company. Owner Operators make up 9% of the truckers on the road today and earn on average $50,000 per year.Jun 18, 2015 - http://www.globeconfreight.com/blog/independent-owner-operator-truck-driver-statistics-united-states/blockquote>

[mountainlion]

Four people burned to death. The truck driver refused to take one of several runaway truck ramps to stop the truck. He was doing almost 100 miles an hour when he hit the rear end of a traffic jam. Millions of dollars damage was done by him. Many people were injured.

FOR PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH.

[DMD13]

What crime did he commit? His brakes failed, what could he do? Something is missing from this story.

[ozarker]

Justice must be tempered with mercy. It was an accident. I’m not saying he shouldn’t face some consequence, but, over a hundred year sentence is crazy.

[Ron H.]

He killed four people.

Due to his negligent behavior.

[Brian Griffin]

His truck was going “double the speed limit” coming down a mountain, but it may have because the brakes were failing or his load of lumber was excessive.

“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). 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. For the next few minutes, Aguilera-Mederos reached speeds upwards of 100 mph and passed the next four exits. [lack of clarity - were those regular exits, or runaway ramps?]”

“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.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Lakewood_semi-truck_crash

[Hojczyk]

The guy probably never drove in the mountains....Floyd Hill is steeper than it looks when you drive down it....