Watch CBS News

Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos Formally Charged In Interstate 70 Crash

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A total of 36 felony charges have been filed by prosecutors against Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, the 23-year-old truck driver blamed for last week's fiery crash on Interstate 70. The crash on April 25 killed four men, seriously injured two more, left several others with minor injuries and involved nearly 30 vehicles.

Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos (2nd mug, Lakewood PD) copy
Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos (credit: Lakewood Police)

"He was operating the vehicle under circumstances where he was exhibiting extreme indifference to the value of human life," Jefferson County District Attorney Pete Weir said Friday.

Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos
Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos (credit: CBS)

Weir announced Friday that Aguilera-Mederos, a truck driver from Houston, faces charges that include vehicular homicide and first-degree assault. The total number of charges he faces is 40.

"There is a relationship between each count that was filed and a separate individual that either died, was seriously hurt, or was placed in extraordinary risk of seriously bodily injury or death," Weir said. "The number of counts reflects the magnitude of the incident and the number of people that were hurt or could have been hurt by his actions."

lakewood semi crash i-70
(credit: CBS)

The crash happened on Interstate 70 at Denver West Parkway near the Colorado Mills shopping mall and led to an extended closure of the highway. Weir said that Aguilera-Mederos's actions before it are what led to the filing of the charges.

Aguilera-Mederos appeared in court from jail on a video monitor.

I-70 CRASH CHARGES 6PKG_frame_535
(credit: CBS)

"(Aguilera-Mederos) was observed at the western part of I-70 at the general area of the Genesee Parkway/exit and Lookout Mountain driving extremely fast and in a reckless manner," Weir said. "The speed limit for a commercial vehicle that (Aguilera-Mederos) was operating -- a semi truck with a trailer -- is 45 mph. The estimated speed of (Aguilera-Mederos) at that time and at subsequent times proceeding eastbound on I-70 was in excess of 85 mph."

Weir said several drivers witnessed Aguilera driving his truck recklessly before the crash, "swerving through various lanes of the road."

DA Announces Charges In Fiery Fatal I-70 Crash

The Jefferson County District Attorney's office is announcing formal charges against Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, the man blamed for the fiery crash on Interstate 70. https://cbsloc.al/2GV1qHH

Posted by CBS Denver on Friday, May 3, 2019

Aguilera-Mederos's wife released a statement this week saying he's innocent because he lost his brakes, but video has been publicly released that investigators believe shows him driving erratically for miles, even past a truck ramp where he had a chance to leave the interstate.

Two women cried when he appeared on the video screen in court. There were tears, but no comments as they left the courtroom.

I-70 CRASH CHARGES 6PKG_frame_1140
(credit: CBS)

RELATED: Truck Driving School Director On Semi Flying Down I-70: 'Should Have Exited'

The crash killed William Bailey, 67, and Stanley Politano, 69, both of Arvada, plus Doyle Harrison, 61, of Hudson and Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24, of Denver.

I-70 CRASH CHARGES 6PKG_frame_1334
(credit: CBS)

Rob Corry, Aguilera-Mederos's lawyer, said his client did everything he could to prevent the fatal crash from happening. Corry said the charges being filed are too harsh for what he calls an accident.

"This is a massive, unprecedented overreach by the prosecution. To charge first degree assault -- a crime of violence -- on a vehicle accident? Everybody who has looked at this -- from the law enforcement, Colorado Department of Transportation, State Patrol, experts up and down all agree this is an accident," Corry said.

RELATED: 'He Called Me On The Way Home': Woman Remembers Husband Killed In Fiery Crash On I-70

When CBS4's Rick Sallinger asked Corry if his client could read the sign that indicated a ramp for runaway trucks, Corry replied, "This is ongoing investigation."

Aguilera-Mederos's next court appearance has been scheduled for July 11. He remains in custody on $400,000 bond.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.