Records: Driver in I-25 crash that killed 5 didn’t have valid CDL

WELD COUNTY, Colo. — 5 months just after a truck crash killed 5 of their liked kinds, a Wyoming family is still waiting around to find out if charges will be submitted in opposition to the driver, who federal data say did not have a legitimate commercial driver’s license. 

A 9Information investigation uncovered federal reports present the California-based trucking corporation, Caminantes Trucking, has a background of allowing for drivers to get driving the wheel without the need of a appropriate CDL.

Halie Everts, her fiancé Aaron Godinez, their 3-thirty day period-old daughter Tessleigh Godinez, and Aaron’s mothers and fathers Emiliano Godines and Christina Godines ended up killed in the June 13 crash on Interstate 25 in Weld County. 

That afternoon, motorists slowed down for a backup. The driver of a person truck did not prevent — and slammed into the 2015 Ford Edge that was carrying the relatives again to their dwelling in Gillette, Wyoming just after a journey to Denver. 

Halie’s mom, Desiree Everts, has put in her entire existence in Gillette. Now, all over each corner, she finds memories of her daughter. 

“I consider about that all the time,” Desiree mentioned, visiting the cemetery where a plaque honors Halie, Aaron and Tessleigh. “Why did this happen to my spouse and children, to them? My grandbaby was only 3 months outdated. It’s challenging. It hurts.”

CSP investigators consider the truck slammed into the family’s vehicle at 75 miles an hour. The crash report obtained from CSP exhibits their vehicle was touring 5 miles an hour at the time, as they had slowed down for stopped targeted visitors forward. 

Two other vehicles ended up also strike in the crash. A single of individuals motorists sustained insignificant injuries. 

The CSP report indicates the truck’s driver was distracted. Lawyers for the Godinez family members told 9Information that investigators are waiting around to see if the driver’s cellular phone documents display whether or not he was on his cellular phone. 

The CSP report also exhibits the truck’s brakes had been “defective” or “out of adjustment.”

Similar: Truck that crashed into automobile, killing 5, could have experienced defective brakes, CSP report says

Federal records show the driver did not have a legitimate business driver’s license.

“I see a whole lot of the worst truck wrecks throughout the country,” Michael Leizerman, a Associate at The Regulation Organization for Truck Basic safety and cofounder of the Academy of Truck Accident Lawyers, reported. “It’s exceptional to see a scenario where by the driver doesn’t have a industrial driver’s license. That must never ever occur.”

Nevertheless, it did — a number of periods. 

Associated: Truck driver in I-25 crash that killed 5 was driving with canceled license, CSP states

About a few months prior to, an officer in Platteville stopped the similar truck. It had a various driver with the exact same tale — no CDL. In California in July, an additional Caminantes Trucking truck was stopped. The driver of that truck also did not have a CDL, according to a report by the Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration. 

“To have just one driver with a business this size devoid of a business driver’s license really should never ever materialize. To have it transpire 3 periods is inexcusable,” Leizerman said. 

Caminantes’ vehicles have been involved in two deadly crashes in the previous two a long time, federal documents show. The Weld County crash killed five, and a single individual was killed in a crash in California in April 2021. 

But the Federal Motor Carrier Protection Administration said all those two crashes aren’t more than enough to shut down the corporation and its 46 vans. After the Weld County crash, the agency did good the enterprise $21,460. 

9News reached out multiple moments with telephone calls, text messages and emails to the proprietors of the enterprise and lawyers who personnel say stand for the firm. No a single returned our messages with a remark. 

The truck was carrying mail on the working day of the Weld County crash. The United States Postal Company informed 9News it is even now contracting with Caminantes to carry mail. 

“Yes, they presently do have contractual associations with us,” a USPS spokesperson said in an e-mail. 

“We often evaluate protection effectiveness of contracted companies and their adherence to USPS guidelines in relation to our ongoing associations,” USPS explained in a assertion. 

The Weld County District Attorney’s office environment tells 9News Colorado Condition Patrol has not nonetheless turned the scenario around to them for them to evaluation any possible fees. When the data is offered to the DA’s office, it could acquire anyplace from a handful of times to many weeks just before a conclusion is built on no matter whether to pursue charges.

Previous thirty day period, a wrongful loss of life lawsuit was filed by Emiliano and Christina’s two surviving youngsters, who were 18 and 22 decades previous when their parents died. The lawsuit names the truck driver Caminantes Trucking and its proprietor sub-carrier Lucky 22 and other individuals as defendants. 

Now, Desiree and her loved ones hold out to discover out if the 26-yr-previous truck driver will facial area any prices. 

“I want him behind bars,” Desiree stated. “He shouldn’t be out dwelling his everyday living when our toddlers are long gone. Our household associates are long gone.”

“And the toughest section about it all is that it could have been preventable,” she claimed. “And it should not have occurred. They should really be having fun with their life proper now. They were way also youthful.”

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