CONIFER, Colo. — 9NEWS Investigates has learned the trucking company involved in Tuesday's fatal crash on Highway 285 has a history of violations over the past two years that raises questions about its safety and driver competence.
Tuesday evening, investigators arrested semi driver Ignacio Cruz Mendoza, 47, on suspicion of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, reckless driving and not having a commercial driver's license.
Cruz-Mendoza's semi went off the edge of Highway 285 just south of Conifer on Tuesday, causing a load of heavy poles to crash onto the pickup truck of 64-year-old Scott Miller of Bailey, killing him. Another driver was seriously hurt.
Five vehicles, in addition to the semi, were damaged in the crash.
Cruz-Mendoza was working for Monique Trucking, a company based in Indio, California.
9NEWS Investigates 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.
9NEWS Investigates spoke to the owner of Monique Trucking over the phone. He acknowledged the crash and claimed his driver is licensed but didn’t have it on him.
When asked about Miller's death, owner Manrique Agramon didn’t have much to say.
“Well, what can I say?” Agramon said to 9NEWS Investigates in Spanish. “Poor thing. He died.”
If you have any information about this story or would like to send a news tip, contact jeremy@9news.com.
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