The man responsible for a deadly accident on U.S. 285 that injured three and and took the life of 64-year-old Scott Miller will spend just under a year behind bars.
The short sentence has outraged the family of the victims.
After pleading guilty in July to misdemeanor charges of careless driving—one count resulting in death and three counts resulting in injury, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was sentenced Friday in Jefferson County Court to 364 days in jail and will receive 81 days credit for time already served.
His guilty plea, entered during his arraignment, blocked prosecutors from filing additional charges later as more evidence became available.
Although Cruz-Mendoza received the maximum sentence permissible for the charges he faced, family members are furious at the system and the Jefferson County District Attorney.
Citing case law, County Judge Kristan Wheeler said although the defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of careless driving, Cruz-Mendoza must serve those sentences concurrently and not consecutively.
Miller’s widow vows to change that in the future.
“I’m really happy that she (Wheeler) did what needed to be done,” Deann Miller told reporters outside of the courthouse. “Unfortunately he (Cruz-Mendoza) deserves more than a year and we need to make some legislation changes because that law, excuse me, sucks.”
Miller’s husband, Scott, was like Cruz-Mendoza a commercial truck driver, as were Miller's father and brother.
Cruz-Mendoza, a Mexican national was in the United States illegally at the time of the accident and did not hold a valid commercial driver license (CDL).
Along with changes to the current law that would permit longer sentences, Miller hopes to add a mountain endorsement on all CDLs and to step up physical inspection of commercial trucks and their loads.
Cruz-Mendoza appeared in court with counsel and sat motionless for most of the hearing, but wiped away tears as victim statements accumulated.
Speaking though a Spanish-language interpreter, he offered a brief apology to the family and victims.
Both Cruz-Mendoza and his now-defunct employer, California-based Monique Trucking, LLC, had a long history of trouble.
Statements by prosecutors show Cruz-Mendoza has removed from the country multiple times, did not keep a driver’s log or submit to drug and alcohol as required by federal law.
Shortly after the June 11 accident, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an Imminent Hazard Order to Monique Trucking, citing their lack of safety compliance and ordering them to cease “all commercial motor vehicle operations.”
The order cited Cruz-Mendoza specifically.
Cruz-Mendoza was driving a company-owned semi southbound on U.S. 285 near Conifer on June 11, 2024, when he attempted to pass three slower-moving vehicles.
Mendoza collided with three of them and losing control of his truck and trailer and dislodging a load of 40-foot steel pipe segments. His truck then jack-knifed into the northbound lanes, where he collided with another vehicle.
Miller’s vehicle was crushed by the pipe and he was pronounced dead at the scene, while other drivers suffered injuries.
According to the order, Mendoza’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) had been downgraded to a non-commercial driver status on Feb. 10, 2024, based on an expired medical certificate.
Monique Trucking hired him on April 10, 2024, approximately 90 days before the accident.
Denver Gazette partner 9NEWS found Monique Trucking has five violations on its record over the past two years, according to a review of Department of Transportation records.
One of the violations includes “insufficient tie downs” in August 2023. In October and November of 2022, drivers were found to be missing proper operator licenses.
While Miller said she had not had the opportunity to meet any of the other victims prior to the sentencing, she felt she felt she had “definitely made some new friends.”
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