Trucker convicted on numerous counts from 2019's massive I-70 crash

Updated Oct 19, 2021
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West Metro Fire Department

The truck driver involved in a collision on Interstate 70 near Denver that killed four people and injured at least six others has been convicted on numerous counts, including four of vehicular homicide.

Rogel Aguilera-MederosRogel Aguilera-MederosLate last week the jury in the trial of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos also convicted him on multiple counts of careless driving, reckless driving, and vehicular assault. However, the jury found he was not guilty on several counts of attempted first-degree assault in connection with the huge pileup on I-70 in Lakewood, Colorado in April of 2019.

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Aguilera-Mederos previously pleaded not guilty to all the counts. When he testified on his own behalf, the driver said April 25, 2019 -- the day of the crash that involved 28 other vehicles including four other tractor-trailers -- was his first time driving in the mountains. He was 23 years old at the time of the collision.

Hauling a flatbed loaded with lumber, Aguilera-Mederos was unable to stop for traffic that had backed up because of an earlier accident. He said his brakes failed, but video is said to have shown him passing a runaway truck ramp. 

A native of Cuba holding a U.S. green card Aguilera-Mederos drove for a small Houston-based trucking company at the time of the crash.

Killed in the crash were four Colorado residents including:

  • Doyle Harrison, 61, of Hudson
  • William Bailey, 67, of Arvada
  • Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24, of Denver
  • Stanley Politano, 69, of Arvada

Aguilera-Mederos is to be sentenced Dec. 13.