Could truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos be released from prison?

• Could Rogel Aguilera-Mederos be released from prison?
• He was convicted on 27 counts after the deadly crash.
• The Colorado governor commuted his sentence.

On April 25, 2019, the life of Cuban truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos changed forever.

That day, he lost control of the cargo truck he was driving on Interstate 70 near a shopping center west of Denver, Colorado.

Tragically, four people were killed in the accident and he was charged with 27 counts, including vehicular homicide.

He was ultimately sentenced to 110 years in prison, although at the end of 2021, that sentence was reduced by 100 years. Could Rogel Aguilera-Mederos be released from prison soon?

How did the accident happen?

According to the BBC, investigators reached some surprising conclusions in this tragic case.

The brakes of the truck driven by Rogel Aguilera-Mederos began to fail going down a steep hill where traffic was stopped.

Rogel failed to use the runaway truck ramp that could have stopped the truck safely, even though he saw smoke coming from the vehicle.

Instead he crashed into several cars that were stopped on Interstate 70 because there had been an accident minutes before in that area.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos thought he was going to die

The individuals who lost their lives in this accident were Stanley Politano, Doyle Harrison, Miguel Ángel Lamas and William Baily.

In his statement, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos confessed that he thought he was going to die, so he closed his eyes before the crash.

The jury found him guilty of six counts of assault in the first degree – extreme indifference.

He was also convicted of 10 counts of attempted assault in the first degree – extreme indifference and seven additional charges.

‘I am not a murderer’

Unable to contain his tears, at his sentencing Rogel Aguilera-Mederos insisted that he was not a criminal, let alone a murderer.

«I am not a murderer. I am not a killer. When I look at my charges, we are talking about a murderer, which is not me,» he said, according to PBS.

He added that he had been having a hard time since the accident and he frequently thinks about the people who died.

«I was working and I lost my brake. Truck drivers know this hard moment when you lose your brake. There’s nothing you can do,» Rogel continued.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence was reduced

At the end of 2021, to many people’s surprise, Colorado Governor Jared Polis commuted Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence.

His sentence for the accident that killed four people was reduced to 10 years.

«I believe you deserve clemency for several reasons. You were sentenced to 110 years in prison, effectively more than a life sentence,» Polis said.

He also commented in the letter he sent to Rogel that, although he was not without fault, the sentence was disproportionate.

Will Rogel Aguilera-Mederos be released from prison soon?

After having part of his sentence commuted Rogel Aguilera-Mederos could be released from prison soon.

According to the BBC, the Cuban truck driver will be eligible for parole after serving five years of his sentence.

James Colgan, his defense lawyer, said his client was relieved and very grateful for this news.

According to  Telemundo Denver, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos could be released on parole in December 2026.