The Verdict Is In……. 110 Years Concurrent Life Sentences

OK, now I think I know what happened, thank you, Pacific Pearl. The guy almost pushed a white pickup truck off the lane, and there were clearly marked run off ramps that he ignored. It is so sad to see thst all these deaths could be easily avoided... The guy must rot in jail till his last day.

He was in the right lane and went left. Inexcusable.

This guy probably had of much as a clue on how to check his brakes as he did on how to properly navigate down a mountain. Or anything really. Still baffles me he just blew past the runaway ramps. You don’t need to speak English to understand what that is. Whether he froze up or thought he’d be able to save himself and the truck when he got to the bottom it’s inexcusable like Banks said. And the fact that he said he closed his eyes before impact irks me. Close before you are about to hit a ditch. Not into stopped traffic.

I gotcha, Anne.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don't have the dedication to learn a language and they definitely don't want to take the time to do so.

And even more unfortunate, making it a requisite would probably be called racist. Businesses/politicians are so afraid of that label, that they will abandon all common sense to prevent it from being placed on them.

Point taken; thanks. The wherewithal I had at 18 isn't paramount, anymore . . obviously. My son took 2 years of Spanish in school; daughter took 1 Spanish, 2 French . . (NO CLUE WHY!) I guess she's moving to Canada, or driving cross border, LoL.

Yessir, you're correct. It was not 'mandatory' to know Spanish living in Florida, but .. i'll tell you what; it sure WAS an advantage/vantage point. With all this 'woke' and 'racist' culture, guess the ESL wouldn't fly. So much for my 2 cents... haha! You're right.

Anne, in fact, it knowledge of English is required: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, at 49 CFR 391.11, says that in order to get a Commercial Driver’s License, an applicant must be able to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”

Andrey, I've read that more than once. Who 'decides' what's ENOUGH comprehension, however? Brandon? (sorry.) Sufficiently.

As for ESL, most towns have free ESL classes either led by volunteers at public libraries or offered at community colleges or centers.

Didn't know that. Maybe it should be more 'readily available' and/or endorsed (suggested) by trucking companies?

I really don't know where I'm going with this. I just don't believe the punishment fits the 'mistake.' Language barriers SUK. I grew up in Florida, as I said, and I actually HAD (almost) to learn another language to prosper . . . or get the 'BETTER JOB!' Can't it be that way here?

ex: Go to South Beach, circa 1998 . . . Un Mas Cervesa, Por Favor? .. then, Donde es el' Bano?? Just simplicity!! Why can't WE teach these foreign borne citizens BETTER ?!?!?

Rant over; Sorry.

~ Anne ~

https://www.change.org/p/jared-polis-grant-clemency-or-gove-commutation-with-time-served-to-rogel-lazaro-aguilera-mederos

That is the petition to grant him clemency or commutation. I already signed it a few days ago. it's already over 4 million signatures. Depending on the article, he was speeding before he lost his brakes. If he was speeding, the sentence makes a little more sense to me. Anyway, it's a waste of tax payer dollars to keep him in prison for the rest of his life in my opinion. Eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.

Still baffles me he just blew past the runaway ramps.

From his testimony at his trial:

"Wildeman also questioned Aguilera-Mederos about why he did not take a runaway truck ramp that he passed after he lost his brakes, and asked him to explain why he continued driving after he pulled over to check his brakes after coming off Berthoud Pass. She focused on his actions well before the fatal crash, including witness testimony that he was driving recklessly in the hours beforehand.

Aguilera-Mederos said he saw the first two signs for the truck ramp — at 1 1/2 miles and 3/4 miles before the ramp — but said he did not see the last two signs for the ramp. He testified that he had not lost his brakes until after he’d passed the first two signs for the ramp. He added that he had always seen runaway truck ramps that go uphill, not downhill like the ramp he passed on I-70 heading toward Denver."

It was his third trip on that route.

Accidents happen, it is a fact. When people die in an accident it is a tragedy. However, when accidents are preventable, but people still die, it becomes a murder, not always an intentional, but nonetheless a murder. Let's call things with their names - this guy killed four people. What kind of clemency can be granted?

He added that he had always seen runaway truck ramps that go uphill, not downhill like the ramp he passed on I-70 heading toward Denver."

I watched the video of that, and was confused too. I was trying to make sense of the fact it was going down hill. Was the guy recording it holding the cell phone at a weird angle or what? It looks more like a suicide ramp to me.

Anyway, the dude has bad judgment and shouldn't be a truck driver. Sadly, he figured that out the worst way possible.

So many thoughts on this one. First off, when my mom taught me to drive on logging roads at 9 years old (she was tired of getting out to open cattle gates lol), she told me that if you ever lose your brakes to drive into the ditch or the mountain side. It'll stop you. It may kill you, but you won't take out anyone else, and you stand a better chance of surviving than if you drive off the mountain (logging roads, remember). I'd still take the mountain or the runaway truck ramp. I am assuming that he thought he could get it under control. That was his judgement error. Given the choice of hitting a parked truck or careening into a 4-wheeler traffic jam, I'd hit the truck. Lives might still have been lost, but a lesser chance and a less destruction, hopefully. Honestly, I don't believe that his lack of English skills had anything to do with it. I drive in Mexico all the time and my Spanish is lacking when you get away from simple greetings, food, alcohol, bathrooms, etc. I'd still know that if I lost my brakes to hit the mountain. Most likely he was scared of wrecking the truck and losing his job, or being that he is young, of dying. Death is less of a deterrent the older you get.

My main issue with the whole thing is the lack of fairness in sentencing times. There are many people who have killed/injured more people who were sentenced to less time. One crazy case in Vegas comes to mind. A 20-year-old dancer (exotic, aka stripper for the uninformed lol) took ecstasy and smoked pot a couple hours prior to driving. She fell asleep at the wheel and killed 6 teenagers cleaning trash in the median (they were a work program from our youth authority). She could have been sentenced to `120 years but got something like 48. A few years ago, she pled guilty to lesser charges and got out after 18 years. I think 110 is too long for this guy. But that's just my opinion. I felt in the Jessica Williams case (the one I mentioned above) and in this case that ruining yet another life (the drivers in both cases) and spending taxpayer dollars to keep them in prison for life is not the best move. IMHO, let them do a lot of time so the loved ones of the deceased get their pound of flesh and in this guy's case, deport him.

Still baffles me he just blew past the runaway ramps.

From his testimony at his trial:

"Wildeman also questioned Aguilera-Mederos about why he did not take a runaway truck ramp that he passed after he lost his brakes, and asked him to explain why he continued driving after he pulled over to check his brakes after coming off Berthoud Pass. She focused on his actions well before the fatal crash, including witness testimony that he was driving recklessly in the hours beforehand.

Aguilera-Mederos said he saw the first two signs for the truck ramp — at 1 1/2 miles and 3/4 miles before the ramp — but said he did not see the last two signs for the ramp. He testified that he had not lost his brakes until after he’d passed the first two signs for the ramp. He added that he had always seen runaway truck ramps that go uphill, not downhill like the ramp he passed on I-70 heading toward Denver."

It was his third trip on that route.

Pacific Pearl, I respect the H outta you.

But, ... his 3rd time on that route... does NOT a seaoned driver make, IMHO. Do trainers even MAKE drivers read EVERY sign anymore? Tom was tasked with training ONE guy ...3 years ago.. New guy was a year into his CDL , don't know where from originally. Tom is NOT trainer material, but .. when he called me and said 'Anne, I can't even get this guy to read signs!' He bowed out. It was just a week. Guy isn't with Tom's place either.

I'm still blaming the language barrier. As far as sentencing & commutation?!?!? Heck yeah; the company's fault 95% (ONLY imho....) but they just 'Disassemble, Stephanie, Johnny 5 is ALIVE!' ?!?!?!?

Showing my age here, I know.

Just my TOO many 2cents. I'm passionate about this..... ESL should be infiltrated. FMCSA ... says 'sufficient?' Define that. I can be 'sufficient' in Spanish, but does that mean I'd drive in a dominantly Spanish country? I trained (enough) for Miami, and anyone that knows Florida, gets this. I got a JOB (okay, hotshot .. boat stuff....) because I knew the language of the 'vicinity!' Why can't the CDLA world jump on THIS wagon!??

I've been to Mexico, Italy, and Brasil. Can't read the signs..... hardly. At. All. Canada, I can do ... until the PNW/upper! No Francoise'!

~ Anne ~