OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Traffic was backed up on a Colorado interstate in 2019 when 26-year-old trucker driver Rogel Aguilera-Medros says his brakes failed on the semitrailer.
Prosecutors argued that he failed to take any runaway ramps while traveling about 85 mph on Interstate 70 west of Denver.
The crash ruptured gas tanks, killing four and injuring six.
After Aguilera-Medros was found guilty, he was sentenced to 110 years, which is the mandatory minimum term under state law.
Those killed were Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24; William Bailey, 67; Doyle Harrison, 61; and Stanley Politano, 69.
The 26-year-old became emotional in court and pleaded for the families to forgive him.
“I am not a criminal,” he said. “I am not a murderer. I am not a killer.”
“When I look at my charges, we are talking about a murderer, which is not me. I have never thought about hurting anybody in my entire life.”
Watch the clip:
He teared up while addressing the court at sentencing and asked the families of the victims to forgive him…
District Court Judge Bruce Jones imposed the sentence after finding it was the mandatory minimum term under state law, The Denver Post reported.
“I will state that if I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence,” the judge said.
CBS Denver reported that lawyers for the 26-year-old said there is case law that would allow for a sentence of 20 years. Jones disagreed but opened the door for a review.
The crash occurred while Aguilera-Medros was on a part of the interstate where commercial vehicles are limited to 45 mph because of a steep descent from the Rocky Mountain foothills, according to investigators. The initial impact caused a 28-vehicle chain-reaction wreck.
“I accept and respect what the defendant has said about his lack of intent to hurt people, but he made a series of terrible decisions, reckless decisions,” the judge said, according to the report.
