Truckers and citizens alike are demanding clemency for the driver of an 18-wheeler sentenced to 110 years in prison for causing a huge cra...
Truckers and citizens alike are demanding clemency for the driver of an 18-wheeler sentenced to 110 years in prison for causing a huge crash that killed four on a Colorado interstate.
More than 4.4 million people have now signed a petition urging Governor Jared Polis to lessen the driver's sentence and social media users are calling on truckers to boycott Colorado.
A protest in support of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26 - the former truck driver who allegedly caused the crash - was held in Denver on Monday. Despite the outpour of support he has received online, only eight people turned up for the demonstration.
'Our goal is to bring local and national awareness so that we CAN find someone who will support Rogel in creating change in this sentencing,' protest organizers told CBS 4. 'Let's join together and RISE UP in support for Rogel! Let Governor Polis Know the TIME doesn't fit the 'Crime'. If we do not stand up for him, who will?'
Meantime, relatives of the victims dispute the narrative circulating the internet and claim that Aguilera-Mederos is not a victim, as many of his supporters allege.
'This person should spend some time in prison and think about his actions,' Gage Evans, the 65-year-old wife of William Bailey who died in the crash, told the New York Times Sunday. 'I don't think he should be let off with a slap on the wrist.'
'We are truly the victims,' she said, noting that she believes Aguilera-Mederos made 'bad decisions all along the way that day.'
A spokesperson for Polis said the governor's office will 'welcome an application' for clemency from the defense 'and will expedite consideration but have not received one yet at this time.'
Truckers and citizens alike are demanding clemency for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26 (pictured at his Dec. 13 sentencing) - the driver of an 18-wheeler sentenced to 110 years in prison for causing a huge crash that killed four on a Colorado interstate
Relatives of the victims are disputing the narrative circulating the internet and claim that Aguilera-Mederos is not a victim, as many of his supporters allege (Pictured: The fiery fatal crash on I-70 in Jefferson County on April 35, 2019)
Aguilera-Mederos was driving a semi on April 25, 2019 down Interstate 70 in Lakewood, Colorado, when he crashed into two dozen vehicles - including four other semi-trucks stuck in rush-hour traffic. The impact caused a fireball explosion that incinerated cars and trucks, and killed four people.
More than two years later, on Dec. 13, Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was sentenced to 110 consecutive years in prison by county court Judge A. Bruce Jones, who said his hands were tied due to mandatory minimum laws in the state.
The judge sentenced Aguilera-Mederos to the minimum in the range available to him on all 27 criminal counts, the Denver Channel reported.
During his trial, the ex-trucker testified the brakes on his semi failed before he plowed into the other vehicles. However, prosecutors argued he could have taken steps to prevent the crash, such as choosing to use one of several runaway ramps as his 18-wheeler barreled down the Denver-area mountains.
In wake of his sentencing, social media has erupted with calls for clemency.
'Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 23, has nothing on his driving record, or on his criminal history,' the Change.org petition for Aguilera-Mederos' clemency, which was addressed to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Jefferson County courts, reads.
'He had complied with every single request by the Jefferson County courts, and investigators on the case.'
Pictured: A screenshot of the 4.4 million signature Change.org petition for clemency for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, the driver of an 18-wheeler jailed for 110 years for killing four people
His supporters argue the punishment Aguilera-Moderos was sentenced to is not equal to his crime. Gov. Jared Polis' office said they are aware of the petition (pictured), will 'welcome an application' for clemency from the defense 'and will expedite consideration but have not received one yet at this time
A protest in support of Aguilera-Mederos, 26 was held in Denver on Monday. Despite the outpour of support he has received online, only eight people turned up for the demonstration
Twitter and TikTok users are now urging truckers to boycott the state, saying Aguilera-Mederos' punishment 'was far too much'.
'It makes me happy to see truckers standing up for the 26 year old Latino who got 110 years. That's a ridiculous sentence for what was obviously an accident. Meanwhile you have privileged yt boys getting no jail time for pre-planned murders,' wrote Twitter user @Not_YouFatJesus.
'We (Brown Eagle LLC) have joined the protest and are not getting any loads out of or to Colorado until Rogel gets justice cause 110 years is ridiculous. The company should be held accountable!' echoed @AOrtega_80, a CDL Class A driver.
However, the movement supporting the 26-year-old, which has taken on the hashtag #NoTrucksToColorado, is flooding with misinformation, The Trucker reported.
'Feel for driver,' Colorado Motor Carriers tweeted, adding: '#NoTrucksToColorado has some info that is not accurate.
'Not mech. failure – brakes gave way due to inexper. driver traveling in mtns above posted speeds/ not gearing down — overheated brakes gave way. He knew of hot brakes yet bypassed runaway truck ramp.'
The protestors also misconstrued the meaning behind a photo circulating TikTok that showed 18-wheelers backed up for miles on a Colorado interstate. The social media users alleged the back-up was in response to the Aguilera-Mederos verdict, however the trucks were actually gridlocked because of icy weather.
Meantime, many are calling the boycott 'unnecessary' and believe the ex-trucker should face strict punishments.
Social media users have taken to Twitter and TikTok to share their opinions on the verdict. Some are urging truckers to boycott Colorado, saying Aguilera-Mederos' punishment 'was far too much,' while others are slamming the driver for his alleged negligence
'I suggest truckers and new truckers take every load available going to and from Colorado,' Twitter user @JamesonTaj wrote.
'There's a strike of #NoTrucksToColorado and it's the perfect time to make extra money for the holidays. Let them protest for their criminal and let us make money #colorado #rogelaguilera.'
Michael W. Teague, a spokesman for the Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's Office, argued on behalf of the punishment, saying Aguilera-Mederos' actions had 'grave impacts.'
'We initiated plea negotiations but Mr. Aguilera-Mederos declined to consider anything other than a traffic ticket,' Teague told the Times.
He added, if an appeal is sought, the state will 'again pursue an appropriate outcome if that opportunity arises, after consulting with the victims and survivors and receiving their input.'
James Colgan, a lawyer for Aguilera-Mederos, argued the punishment was unjust: 'I have been in this system for 32 years and I have never seen anything like this.'
Protestors also misconstrued the meaning behind a photo circulating TikTok that showed 18-wheelers backed up for miles on a Colorado interstate. The social media users alleged the back-up was in response to the Aguilera-Mederos verdict, however the trucks were actually gridlocked because of icy weather
TikTok user iamnolting shows support for Aguilera-Mederos, while also saying the justice system is to blame - not the entire state of Colorado
TikTok user venessajimenez1 shows support for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos
TikTok user dogknot420, a truck driver, shows support for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos
The attorney called the sentence 'truly something that is out of the ordinary' and claimed 'chances are pretty good' that Polis will 'look at that favorably'.
Colgan is seeking a commutation of his client's sentence, which lessens the severity. He is not seeking a pardon which would excuse or forgive the offense.
The lawyer notes that commutation does not change the jury decision to convict Aguilera-Mederos, only changes how much time - if any - he would spend incarcerated.
'We're not saying he's innocent and didn't make mistakes, [but] the punishment has to fit the crime and this punishment does not fit the crime,' Colgan stated.
The governor is the only person who can grant clemency at the state level. Polis most recently commuted four sentences and issued 18 pardons in December 2020. Clemency usually results in a sentence reduction or a pardon.
Aguilera-Mederos, pictured, of Texas, as he was sentenced on Dec. 13 to 110 consecutive years in prison, who said his hands were tied due to mandatory minimum laws in the state
Meantime, Aguilera-Moderos' supporters are arguing that his actions are the result of a negligent trucking company, not because of the driver himself.
'He's passed all of the drug and alcohol tests that were given including a chemical test,' the change.org petition reads.
'This accident was not intentional, nor was it a criminal act on the drivers part. No one but the trucking company he is/was employed by should be held accountable for this accident.'
'We are trying to hold the person who needs to be held responsible, responsible. The trucking company has had several inspections since 2017, with several mechanical violations.'
The petition goes on to say that Rogel could have 'done things differently to avoid the courts,' but ultimately commended him for taking responsibility and apologizing to the victim's families.
'Some of the families even offered forgiveness,' the petition continues.
'Rogel is not a criminal.'
It will become one of the website's top signed petitions after it reaches 3 million signatures, according to the Change.org page.
One of website's petitions successfully forced AT&T, Ernst & Young, Intel, and UPS to cease donating to the Boy Scouts after the organization came under heavy scrutiny for its controversial exclusionary policy against gay scouts and leaders this year.
Among the vehicles he crashed into were four other semi-trucks
Prosecutors say Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was driving at 85mph when he crashed into two dozen cars on April 25, 2019 near the Denver West Colorado Mills Parkway
A giant fireball formed from the impact of the crash, incinerating some cars and trucks
And 14-year-old Julia Bluhm successfully petitioned Seventeen magazine on Change.org to stop doctoring photos of its teen models. The magazine announced it would no longer Photoshop its models in July, making it the first mainstream teen magazine to take the 'no Photoshop' pledge, Business News Daily reported.
Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was working for a Houston-based trucking company at the time of the fatal crash. He was driving an 18-wheeler loaded with lumber.
Prosecutors said he was eastbound coming down the interstate from the mountains at about 85mph. They said he also swerved at times, forcing others off the road before he crashed into two dozen vehicles causing a giant fireball, FOX 31 reports.
It left behind a scene of 'significant, just unbelievable carnage,' Lakewood Police Spokesman Ty Countryman said in a news conference following the crash, noting that some bodies were still in the wreckage hours later. Video showed cars stopped in every direction as the huge fire spread, sending smoke billowing.
'This is looking to be one of the worst accidents we've had here in Lakewood,' Countryman said.
Four were killed in the crash, including: Doyle Harrison, 61, of Hudson, Colorado; William Bailey, 67, of Arvadal; Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, 24, of Denver; and Staney Politano, 69, of Arvada.
Six others were taken to the hospital for their injuries.
The Truck Safety Coalition - an organization that works with families of truck crash victims - commented on the verdict in a statement released on Twitter Thursday.
'We hope that this outcome will result in commercial motor carriers prioritizing safety,' the group wrote.
He was found guilty in October on 27 criminal charges including vehicular homicide, assault and reckless driving for a fiery crash in April 2019, and a county court judge on Monday said he had to sentence Aguilera-Mederos, pictured with his attorney, according to state minimums
Among the victims of the deadly crash were Stanley Politano, 69, of Arvada, Colorado, left, and Miguel Angel Lamas Arrelano, 24, of Denver, right,
Doyle Harrison, pictured, was also killed in the inferno
Victim William Bailey is pictured with his wife, Gage Evans
Aguilera-Mederos claimed the brakes in his truck had failed and he lost control, but prosecutors argued in court that he could have taken steps to prevent the crash, including using a runaway truck ramp miles before the wreck. He made a 'bunch of bad decisions' instead, they said.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, was sentenced on Monday to 110 consecutive years in prison
His defense attorney claimed he did not know that his truck brakes were smoking or that he would not be able to stop.
He also argued that Aguilera-Mederos' actions were a series of negligent decisions, and that he did not intend to hurt anybody.
But in October, a jury found him guilty of 27 criminal charges, including:
- Four counts of vehicular homicide
- Two counts of vehicular assault
- Six counts of assault in the first-degree with extreme indifference
- 10 counts of criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree
- One count of reckless driving
- Four counts of careless driving causing death
He was also found not guilty of 15 counts of criminal attempts to commit assaults in the first degree.
Before his sentencing on Monday, Aguilera-Mederos pleaded with the judge to be lenient, breaking down in tears as he spoke.
'It's hard. This was a terrible accident, I know,' he said. 'I take the responsibility, but it was an accident.
Some of the lumber Aguilera-Mederos was transporting was strewn across I-70 as traffic was stopped in both directions
Smoke billowed throughout the sky in the aftermath of the crash
'I have never thought about hurting anyone in my entire life and Jesus Christ, he knows that, he knows my heart,' he continued.
'I am not a criminal, I am not a murderer.'
'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 claimed that he tried to avoid the traffic, and noted that he did not flee in the aftermath 'because I respect the laws.
'I want to say sorry, sorry for the loss, sorry for the people injured,' he concluded, noting: 'I ask ... God many times why them and not me.'
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