Driver found guilty for fatal crash in moment family was “waiting for”

Truck driver found guilty for fatal crash in moment the victims’ family has been “waiting for” since the accident. 

On Wednesday, March 27th, 27-year-old truck driver Jesus Puebla has been found guilty on five counts of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, careless driving, reckless driving, commercial vehicle safety violation and driving without a commercial license. Puebla pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the June 13th, 2022 wreck in the summer of 2023 

According to Fox 31, Puebla was said to be driving “aggressively” before the crash, but claims that his brakes went out and he was trying to slow down before he crashed into the line of stopped vehicles outside of Denver, Colorado. Police say that the truck was traveling at about 76 mph at the time of the wreck and there is no evidence that he tried to slow prior to striking the SUV. 

“We had information and evidence that he did not possess a valid commercial driver’s license [at the time of the wreck,” said DA Michael Rourke of the incident. “We had information that there may have been safety violations on the semi-truck that he was driving at the time that he should have been aware of.”

The trucking company Puebla was working for was uninsured for years prior to the crash, and even tried to purchase insurance just one hour after the wreck. The company was not placed out of service until February of 2024, almost two years after the wreck. 

“I’ve been waiting for this moment [Puebla’s conviction] since I got the call that they were gone,” said Desiree Everts, mother and grandmother to two of the people killed in the wreck. 

“It’s so raw, you’re just so angry. But now it’s all about accountability,” said Thomas Bueno, Great-Uncle to the family killed in the crash. “Maybe it will bring about change, that a vehicle or truck gets checked and there is something wrong with the brakes or something’s not allowed to be on the road.”