An illegal immigrant, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, is facing a maximum of one year in jail for causing a fatal crash in Colorado, despite having been deported from the U.S. multiple times. This case has sparked outrage from the victim’s widow, who believes justice is not being served.
According to local reports, Cruz-Mendoza pleaded guilty to misdemeanor traffic violations, including careless driving resulting in death, in July. He was charged after losing control of his semi-truck while hauling a load of steel pipe on Highway 285, causing it to roll onto its side and spill its cargo onto five other vehicles. The crash resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.
The victim, Scott Miller, was killed in the collision. His widow, Deann Miller, expressed her anger and frustration with the district attorney’s decision to only pursue misdemeanor charges against Cruz-Mendoza, highlighting that he could potentially receive just one year in jail despite causing her husband’s death. She questioned the DA’s commitment to ensuring public safety, emphasizing that rogue truck drivers and companies need to be held accountable.
Adding to the outrage, it has been revealed that Cruz-Mendoza has a long history of immigration violations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that he had been deported from the U.S. or voluntarily returned to Mexico 16 times since 2002, highlighting the failure of previous enforcement measures. This case raises questions about the effectiveness of border security and the consequences for repeated immigration violations. The DA’s office expressed surprise at Cruz-Mendoza’s plea bargain, acknowledging that they are looking into the trucking company involved in the crash. However, the focus remains on the inadequate punishment for a fatal crash caused by an individual with a history of deportations. This case is likely to fuel the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement and the consequences of illegal entry into the U.S.
