CONIFER, Colo. — The semi-truck driver who was arrested after a fatal crash on Highway 285 last week was in the United States without proper documentation and had previously been removed from the country multiple times, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Colorado State Patrol said Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was arrested on vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges after the crash Tuesday afternoon on Highway 285 near Conifer. CSP said Cruz-Mendoza's semi went off the edge of the road, rolled onto its side and dumped its load of pipe and angle iron on top of five other vehicles.
The driver of one of those vehicles, 64-year-old Scott Miller of Bailey, died on the scene. Another driver suffered serious injuries.
CSP said speed is being considered the primary factor in the crash. On Tuesday evening, investigators arrested Cruz-Mendoza on suspicion of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, reckless driving and not having a commercial driver's license.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on Monday that Cruz-Mendoza is a citizen of Mexico. ICE first became aware of him when he was arrested on local charges in Oregon in April 2002. On May 29, 2002, an immigration judge in Oregon ordered that he be removed to Mexico, ICE said.
Since 2002, Cruz-Mendoza has been removed from the United States or has voluntarily returned to Mexico 16 times, ICE said.
9NEWS Investigates found federal court documents that say Cruz-Mendoza was arrested in Oregon in 2002 for a low-level drug trafficking offense. The punishment was 10 days in jail and 18 months probation. ICE said they are not aware of any other local criminal charges on his record.
Federal documents share some of his immigration history. Cruz-Mendoza was deported on Sept. 10, 2004. He reentered the U.S. without proper authorization 10 days later.
ICE said it has asked the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to notify them if Cruz-Mendoza is released from custody. His next court appearance is set for Tuesday.
The trucking company Cruz-Mendoza was working for, Monique Trucking, has five violations on its record over the past two years, according to a review of Department of Transportation records by 9NEWS Investigates.
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.
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