Detailed Analysis: What Went Wrong in Colorado's Deadly Truck Crash?
Truck Driver Could Face Prison Time for Fatal Colorado Crash
A truck driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter for causing a fatal crash while barreling down a steep grade along Interstate 70 in Colorado at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour.

Truck driver Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos could face prison time for causing a 28-car crash in Colorado that resulted in four deaths.
Photo via West Metro Fire
Truck driver Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos has been charged with vehicular manslaughter for causing a fatal crash while barreling down a steep grade along Interstate 70 in Colorado at speeds exceeding 80 m.p.h., according to a Denver-Post report.
Aguilera-Mederos lost control of his truck while traveling on a steep stretch of I-70 in the Rocky Mountains. He told prosecutors that his brakes failed, resulting in a 28-car pileup that killed four people and injured six more.
While it is not believed that the crash was intentional, prosecutors still decided to charge Aguilera-Mederos with vehicular manslaughter - a charge usually levied against drivers who were under the influence. They argue that he showed extreme indifference, driving recklessly and without regard for others' lives.
A particularly damning video of Aguilera-Mederos’ truck moments before the accident shows the truck swerving down the highway at speeds in excess of 80 m.p.h., passing by a runaway ramp that could have prevented the tragedy.
When combined with other charges against Aguilera-Mederos could be facing decades in prison.
Aguilera-Mederos’ lawyer said that the charges are an example of prosecutorial overreach and maintains that the accident was the result of a mechanical malfunction.
More Drivers

Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert
Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.
Read More →
FMCSA Removes 110 Truck Driver Training Schools from Certified ELDT List
Federal regulators also are targeting more than 160 additional training providers and launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers as part of a broader crackdown on trucking fraud.
Read More →
Hours of Service Pilot Programs: FMCSA Readies for 2027 Rollout
Two pilot programs could eventually reshape hours-of-service rules, giving truck drivers options to pause their 14-hour clock or use longer split sleeper rest periods.
Read More →
Medical Cards, English Proficiency Reshape Roadcheck Violations
Medical-card violations jumped to the top of the driver out-of-service list during CVSA’s 2026 International Roadcheck, while English-language proficiency violations appeared among the leading violations for the first time.
Read More →
Driver Trust Can Make or Break the Success of Fleet Safety Technology
New Teletrac Navman research suggests that onboarding, transparency about driver data, and positive feedback can play a significant role in how commercial drivers respond to safety and coaching technology.
Read More →
EEOC Sues KLLM Over Alleged Sex Discrimination in Driver Training
KLLM is facing a federal sex-discrimination lawsuit over policies the EEOC alleges put female truck driver trainees at a disadvantage.
Read More →
FMCSA Moves to Codify English Language Requirements for Commercial Drivers
By changing regulations on English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, rather than relying on a guidance memo, the FMCSA said future administrations won't be able to walk back the Trump administration's stricter enforcement with just a memo.
Read More →Drivers Put Western Star Trucks to the Test at Star Nation Experience
Watch to get an inside look at the Western Star trucks, technology, and community behind the Star Nation Experience 2026!
Read More →
Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel
The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.
Read More →
Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test
A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.
Read More →
