Truckers have vowed to boycott Colorado on behalf of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, who was recently sentenced to 110-years in prison in the state for causing a huge crash which killed four people.
The 25-year-old 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.
Investigators found that Aguilera-Mederos was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, with the driver blaming the crash on the truck's brakes malfunctioning.
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Now fellow truckers are reportedly refusing to go to Colorado, with some saying: "I don't care what they want to pay me."
One person took to TikTok and wrote: "This truck is no longer going to Colorado. We want justice for Rogel Aguilera. Truckers, he needs our help."
Another agreed, saying: "I am a trucker and will NO LONGER be going to Colorado.”
A third commented on another viral clip, saying: "Truckers, if it happened to Rogel, it can happen to you. stay united."
This comes after a petition was signed by more than three million people who are trying to urge officials to change the young man's sentence.
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Joe Rajkovacz, director of communications for Western States Trucking Association, told CPR he hadn't heard of an industry-wide boycott as of yesterday (17 December), but several members had asked him to sign the petition.
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.
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.
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“He’s passed all of the drug and alcohol tests that were given including a chemical test.
“This accident was not intentional, nor was it a criminal act on the driver's part.”
Before being sentenced, 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.”
A spokesperson for Governor Jared Polis' office said of the petition: "We are aware of this issue, the Governor and his team review each clemency application individually."
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/elchocolatitoherrera503