Trucker responsible for road accident lightened sentence by 100 years

The trucker convicted to 110 years in prison for a fatal accident in Colorado, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after the protests.

“Hearing of a highly nontypical and not fair sentence in your case, I am lightening your sentence to 10 years and giving you the right to parole on December 30, 2026,” Governor Jared Polis said.

On December 13, Mederos was sentenced to 110 years in prison for a fatal accident on Interstate 70 in 2019 in which 4 people were killed and several got injuries.

Mederos affirmed that his brakes were defective, but he was driving 85 mph when the speed limit was 45 mph. He also drove past a truck ramp, that was beyond control, before slaming into stopped cars, police reported.

Trucker was found guilty by a Jefferson County jury on 27 counts.

“The duration of your 110-year sentence is simply incompatible with either your actions or the punishments given to others for similar crimes,” Polis said in his letter.

Jefferson County District Attorney Alexis King filed a petition for a 20 to 30-year sentence earlier this month, and a revision hearing was set for January 13, 2022. King said she was “disappointed with the governor’s decision.”

“I joined the survived victims and the families of those who lost loved ones in their desire for the trial judge to issue an appropriate verdict in this case, as he heard the facts and evidence of the destructive behavior of the accused, which led to death, injury, and devastating destruction” King said in a statement Thursday night. “Tonight we have a meeting with the victims and their closed ones to support them in this unprecedented action and to ensure that they are treated fairly, with dignity and respect during this difficult time.

Among those who kept up less punishment were family members of people who died in the accident.