An image of the I-25 crash scene showing the aftermath (KDVR/screengrab) showing Jesus Puebla (inset left) in a Weld County mug shot, and the victims Aaron Godinez, Halie Everts, and Tessleigh Godinez (GoFundme)
In Colorado, a trucker was convicted on Thursday of driving his vehicle on I-25 without a commercial driver's license and crashing into and killing five members of a family who were traveling back to Gillette, Wyoming almost two years ago. The jury in Weld County found Jesus Puebla, now 27, guilty of 10 counts.
Jesus Puebla, now 27, was found guilty by jurors in Weld County of all 10 charges. The district attorney's office announced the charges in December 2022. The charges were filed six months after the crash. after The crash resulted in the death of 20-year-old Aaron Godinez, his 20-year-old fiancee Halie Everts, their 3-month-old daughter Tessleigh Godinez, and Aaron’s parents Emiliano and Christina Godinez, ages 51 and 47.
Puebla was convicted of five counts of vehicular homicide, careless and reckless driving, and committing a commercial vehicle safety violation while driving without a CDL on June 13, 2022.
Colorado Public Radio reported that Puebla was driving a box truck containing U.S. Postal Service mail illegally when he crashed into and killed the victims, shortly after the family had celebrated Aaron Godinez's birthday. Local Fox affiliate KDVR reported that the defendant was driving the truck at 76 mph before crashing into the victims’ 2015 Ford Edge, which was traveling at a speed between 6 to 10 mph. detailed In court, the defendant and his attorneys blamed Caminantes Trucking, the owner of the box truck, for making Puebla drive a “Frankenstein truck” with brakes out of alignment. Prosecutors argued that eyewitness testimony confirmed Puebla’s “horrific” driving was dangerous even if the brakes weren’t faulty. reported At trial, the defendant and his attorneys reportedly blamed Caminantes Trucking, who owned the box truck, for having Puebla drive a “Frankenstein truck” with brakes out of alignment. Prosecutors countered that eye witness testimony confirmed Puebla’s “driving was horrific” and was bound to place lives in danger even if the brakes weren’t faulty. According to the report, the defendant was driving the truck at 76 mph before he crashed into the victims’ 2015 Ford Edge, which was moving at a speed between 6 to 10 mph. The defendant’s sentencing is scheduled for the afternoon of June 21.
The district attorney’s office stressed that the defendant also “severely” injured another driver he crashed into that fateful day.
Jesus Puebla’s sentencing is set for June 21, and under Colorado law, a vehicular manslaughter charge is a class 4 felony, punishable by two to six years in prison.
A truck driver without a CDL was found guilty of crashing into and killing five family members who were driving from Colorado to Wyoming in 2022. reported. “We know when he braked because there are skid marks. It’s that simple.”
The prosecutor reportedly pointed out that a 911 caller said Puebla “went through those vehicles like butter” and “didn’t even try to stop.” Another reported witness account from the affidavit in the case similarly condemned the truck driver’s actions.
“I was in the left lane and kinda remember him riding my ass, and I was like, ‘What the hell?'” that witness reportedly said.
In the end, jurors agreed that Puebla was criminally culpable for each death. When announcing Puebla’s conviction, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that the defendant also “severely” injured another driver he crashed into that fateful day.
Puebla’s sentencing is currently set for the afternoon of June 21.
Under Colorado law, a vehicular manslaughter charge is a class 4 felony. Those crimes are generally punished by two to six years in prison.