A driving school instructor believes that young, inexperienced, and speed-seeking drivers in particular should pay attention to what has happened overseas.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a truck driver who lost control of his semi-truck and crashed into stopped traffic on a Colorado highway in 2019, killing four people, was sentenced to 110 years in prison.
In October, a jury found the young truck driver guilty of 27 counts, including four counts of vehicular homicide.
On April 25, 2019, Aguilera-Mederos was driving when the brakes failed on his 18-wheeler, which was carrying lumber. Despite the highway having truck ramps, an inexperienced Aguilera-Mederos, then 23, didn’t take a runaway and instead tried his best to slow the truck down on the median.
He would eventually crash into stopped traffic killing four people and injuring several others.
During Monday’s sentencing, the court heard from the victims’ families who all express hurt, emptiness and sadness as a result of losing their loved ones.
A tearful and remorseful Aguilera-Mederos in addressing the court said that “It hurts, I ask God too many times why them and not me? Why did I survive that accident?”
Interestingly, the judge noted that state law required him to sentence Aguilera-Mederos to consecutive sentences despite the fact that he had no intention of harming anyone.
According to District Court Judge Bruce Jones “if I had the discretion it would not be my sentence.” The judge however said he was compelled to issue the stiff prison term due to mandatory minimum sentencing standards in Colorado.
Several young, promising individuals have been killed in vehicular accidents in Saint Lucia. A video of a vehicle clipping a drain and flipping over went viral last weekend. Official information on the condition of the driver or passengers has not been released.
“Repercussions of the devastating accident and the stiff penalty passed down by a judge in Colorado should serve as a wake-up call to drivers in Saint Lucia who are reckless,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before we see someone’s daughter or son crying because they are about to face some jail time for a bad accident.”