Driver in deadly US 285 crash near Conifer pleads guilty

DENVER (KDVR) — A semitruck driver who was facing charges of vehicular homicide and assault pleaded guilty to lesser charges of careless driving on Wednesday.

Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was arraigned Wednesday in Jefferson County District Court on charges of careless driving resulting in death and three counts of careless driving resulting in injury.

The Colorado State Patrol said Cruz-Mendoza was traveling southbound on U.S. 285 near Conifer around rush hour on June 11 when he side-swiped five vehicles while trying to pass them. The truck ended up jack-knifed on the highway, spilling its load of pipe and angle iron, closing the highway for over 14 hours and killing a man.

That man was identified as Scott Miller, 64, whose family has said they wanted Cruz-Mendoza to face more accountability for his actions.

"He took my father's life and he seriously injured someone else," Miller's daughter, Michelle Tusa, Read Entire Article