The governor of Colorado has commuted the sentence of the truck driver who was sentenced to 110 years in prison
A Colorado court has sentenced Rojel Aguilera-Madros to 110 years in prison for causing a serious chain accident in which four people were killed, but in recent weeks there has been a campaign calling for him to be pardoned. Governor Polis has decided to commute his sentence, and now the truck driver will want 10 years in prison
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced today (Thursday) that he has decided to commute the sentence of Rogel Aguilera-Madros, a truck driver sentenced to 110 years in prison after causing a fatal chain accident. Now, 26-year-old Aguilera-Madros will want “only” ten years in prison.
Aguilera-Madros against the backdrop of the scene of the worst accident in Colorado in 2019
As you may recall, Aguilera-Madros was sentenced to a lengthy prison term following an accident that occurred about two and a half years ago, on April 25, 2019, on a highway connecting the Rocky Mountains to southern Denver (Route No. 70). Aguilera-Madros was traveling east (i.e., descending from the Rocky Mountains) when he claimed to have lost his brakes. At this point he approached the area on the road where traffic was stopped due to another accident, went down to the curb and caused a chain accident.
Traffic inspectors estimated that the truck was speeding at 135 km / h in the seconds before the accident, and the truck hit 28 other vehicles – including 4 trucks. Four people were killed as a result of the accident, and the highway remained closed for more than 24 hours.
Following his conviction, Judge Bruce Jones sentenced Aguilera-Madros to 110 years in prison and explained that he was forced to do so due to the Colorado law requiring consecutive sentences in such cases.
Letter sent by Governor Polis (Photo: Colorado Governor’s Office)
As mentioned, Governor Polis has sweetened the sentence of Aguilera-Madros, who spent a decade behind bars. In a letter sent to the truck driver the governor wrote: “Although you are not innocent, the period of imprisonment imposed on you is disproportionate when compared to prisoners who have committed serious, violent and pre-planned offenses.”
The governor also wrote: “You were convicted of very serious offenses. Four people were killed and many more were injured because of bad decisions you made. The people with tuberculosis killed will not be able to hug them anymore, and it was a tragic event that affected many residents.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis (Photo: AP)
As we reported earlier this week, a hearing in Aguilera-Madros’ case is scheduled to take place next month, after the Denver prosecutor’s office exceptionally asked to reconsider the period of imprisonment imposed on the truck driver.
This discussion of course became superfluous after Governor Polis decided to sweeten Aguilera-Madros’ sentence.
In addition, more than five million people have signed a petition calling for his pardon. However, most of the family members of the victims of the accident agreed that the period of imprisonment imposed on the driver – as stated, 110 years – is disproportionate. On the other hand, they believe that the driver is in any case likely to appeal the sentence, and therefore they call on Governor Jared Polis not to intervene and grant him a pardon.
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