
DENVER (KDVR) — The semitruck driver who side-swiped five vehicles on U.S. 285 Tuesday near Conifer, killing one person and hurting another, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
The Colorado State Patrol said the driver, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was arrested Tuesday night.
The agency clarified details of the crash on Wednesday, stating that the semi driver was traveling southbound around 5 p.m. on Tuesday and side-swiped five vehicles he was attempting to pass. He failed to pass successfully and the semi jack-knifed across the highway, spilling its load of pipe and angle iron.
One person died in the crash and was identified as Scott Miller, 64, by Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. The husband of a woman injured in the crash spoke to FOX31 on Wednesday, sharing that she has broken ribs, staples in her head and extensive bruising.
The roadway was closed for over 14 hours while crews cleared the spilled load, investigated the crash and ensured the roadway was safe.
Cruz-Mendoza is scheduled to appear in court on June 18 for a return filing of charges, according to court records.
There have been a lot of crashes along several different areas of U.S. 285. Bill Bruner, who lives in the area, chairs a group trying to make the roadway safer and spoke to FOX31’s Vicente Arenas on Wednesday.
“The major reason for most of the crashes in the last five years have been distracted driving, excessive speed or a combination of both,” Bruner said.
Bruner said improvements over the years were made to the roadway where the crash happened, including the installation of cable barriers at the curb. The rig crossed over just before the start of those barriers.
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