More than two million people have signed a petition urging officials to change the 110-year prison sentence of a truck driver who caused a huge crash that killed four people.
Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 25, was driving an 18-wheeler truck on a Colorado interstate, in April 2019, when he crashed into around two dozen other vehicles resulting in a fireball explosion that killed four.
He told police he lost control of the brakes and when he saw traffic that was already stopped due to another crash, he took the truck onto the shoulder before crashing into traffic on an overpass.
At trial he was found guilty on 42 counts, including vehicular homicide, first-degree-assault and careless driving - and on Monday he was sentenced to 110 years in prison.
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Judge A Bruce Jones said his hands were tied when it came to sentencing as the state has mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
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.
“He’s passed all of the drug and alcohol tests that were given including a chemical test.
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“This accident was not intentional, nor was it a criminal act on the driver's part.”
Before his sentencing on Monday, Aguilera-Mederos broke down in tears and pleaded with the judge for leniency.
He said: "I'm dying. It is hard to live with this trauma. I can't sleep. I'm thinking all [the time] about the victims.
“This was a terrible accident, I know. I take the responsibility, but it was an accident.
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“I have never thought about hurting anyone in my entire life and Jesus Christ, he knows that, he knows my heart.
“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.”
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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.
Featured Image Credit: KDVR