More than two million people have signed a petition asking officials to commute a truck driver’s 110-year sentence for causing a massive crash that killed four people.
In April 2019, Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 25, was driving an 18-wheeler truck on a Colorado interstate when he collided with about two dozen other vehicles, causing a firestorm explosion that killed four people.
He informed authorities that he lost control of his brakes and that when he noticed traffic that was already stopped due to another accident, he drove onto the shoulder before slamming into it on an overpass.
He was found guilty on 42 counts during his trial, including vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, and careless driving, and was sentenced to 110 years in jail on Monday.
When it came to punishment, Judge A Bruce Jones said he had little choice because the state has statutory minimum sentencing statutes.
According to the Denver Channel, the judge gave Aguilera-Mederos the minimum range that was available to him on every count.
The petition, which is addressed to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Jefferson County courts, reads: “Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos has nothing on his driving record, or on his criminal history. He had complied with every single request by the Jefferson County courts, and investigators on the case.
“The accident – it wasn’t intentional, it wasn’t intentional, your Honor. I did all that I can as a man. I put myself in harm’s way to avoid harming anyone else.”
He went on to say he had attempted to avoid traffic and said he didn’t flee the scene following the incident as ‘respects the laws’.
He added: “I want to say sorry, sorry for the loss, sorry for the people injured.
“I ask God many times why them and not me.”
An attorney for Aguilera-Mederos told CBS4 there will be an appeal.
