A truck driver accused of causing a multiple fatality pileup in Colorado earlier this year has pled not guilty.
On Thursday, 24 year old truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos entered a “not guilty” plea in a Jefferson County courthouse.
Aguilera-Mederos is facing 41 charges including vehicular homicide for a crash that happened in slowed traffic on I-70 near Lakewood, Colorado, on April 25. The pileup ultimately involved 24 passenger vehicle and four semi trucks. Four people were killed and two others were seriously injured in the pileup.
Aguilera-Mederos has argued that brake failure was to blame for the crash.
Officials confirmed that this video, which shows a semi driver swerving across lanes and passing a runaway truck ramp on I-70, is Aguilera-Mederos prior to last week’s crash.https://t.co/7T6Wg57Ybf pic.twitter.com/Sdk6rhKQVV
— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) May 3, 2019
Police have accused Aguilera-Mederos of driving more than 85 m.p.h. on a stretch of mountainous interstate where trucks are limited to 45 m.p.h. In video captured at the scene, Aguilera-Mederos appears to bypass a runaway truck ramp on I-70.
Aguilera-Mederos has also maintained that another truck driver who was illegally parked along I-70 is at least partially at fault for the crash.
Aguilera-Mederos’ trial will begin May 1, 2020. Aguilera-Mederos remains free on a $400,000 bond and has been granted permission to leave the state of Colorado while he awaits trial.