Colorado Truck Driver Sentence Reduced To 10 Years By Governor 

If this this young driver was not fully eperienced in failed brakes, 110 years was way, way too much. Remember the rich kid who was drunk and killed several people. the excuse was that his family and wealthy and pampered him. The criminal justice system is not fair, money talks and bull## walks.

The truckers pulled it off. The man is living through a nightmare. Even when he gets out he’s still going to have to live with what happened when he was in his 20s

This isn't a one-off. There are plenty of people sitting in jail/prison with ridiculous sentences due to man-min requirements. This is just the one case that got so far out of hand that it exposed the flaw in the system. As long as they address this one problem they can go back to business as usual overcharging and oversentencing people.

The truck company need to be held accountable as well, not just him.

Weird to say but congrats to that man for getting 100 YEARS REMOVED FROM HIS SENTENCE!!!! This s**t was crazy.

I am a truck driver, so I know he made mistakes, he panicked, but 10 years is fair, not 110!!! Now the company that did not have him drive with a trainer for the first 3 weeks does need to be held accountable!!

He must have had a lot of people praying for him it's nothing short of a miracle

See the power we have as we the people , when we band together and demand for change! It’s time to stop fighting each other over the left and right because that’s what they want. Time to hold them accountable as a whole and demand the change we want and desperately need!

I'm thankful that his time was reduced BUT the sentence for a truck driver in Indiana who was under the influence of BOTH drugs and alcohol and also resulted in the deaths of 4 children didn't get as harsh of a sentence as this drivers reduced time. Our justice system needs to review penalties for crimes to insure fair sentences. This driver didn't intend to harm anyone and wasn't drinking or on drugs. I don't know if he knew he had brake issues before the runaway truck ramp OR after, but figuring that out would be the difference between deserving some prison time or none. If it was after then any prison sentence is unjust.

They also need to investigate the company that Truck driver worked for, and make sure all their trucks are meeting proper safety standards, as well as if that company had prior knowledge to the drivers involvement due to the break failure that occurred, if so there may be some legal ground for a potential lawsuit for the victims/families against that company

This is so awesome . I’m so happy for him he deserves to be home . Although 10 years is a lot , I’m so happy the governor gave clemency and took off 100 years

Glad someone came to their senses and reduced the jail time. They need to get rid of these mandatory minimums because they are just a cash cow for the private and state run prison systems

Round of applause for the news anchor who managed to say this guys names right.

It’s innocent people in prison that can’t get a reduced sentence

The company who hired him should be under investigation for putting someone behind the wheel who obviously wasn't trained..that's who should go to prison!!

A 24 year old white lady from indiana purposely blew through a school bus stop and ran over killing 3 siblings kids and disabling a 4th . Showed no remorse , laughing at trial . She got like 2 years. This guy ACCIDENTLY kills 4 through break failure and gets 10? Shows remorse , crying like a beeatch in court , begging like Keith sweat . How does it make sense ?

Trucking company needs prosecution and fines and some manager goes to jail tt.

This shows people have more power than they think. I'm glad people stood up for him.

✨ This only confirms what I've always believed that The power of a protest, the power of people when they stand as one, the power of unity. Thank you for listening Governor💯🌠✨ and I hope that he himself personally and all those who are involved sued the company that he worked, from what it has been stated that the company allegedly endangering him and everyone else lives as well because there were previous formal complaints. 🌹My condolence to the families who lost their loved ones💐

Only 10 years? That's rediculus and wrong!! He drove 40 miles over the speed limit with a heavy load then his brakes failed because he didn't even dare to check them. He killed 4 inecent people because of that. He should have recieved at least 20 years!!

Four inocent people dying horrific deaths in burning wreckage doesn't mean a thing in this sick nation. My heart goes out to their loved ones.

Great news finally. This guy obviously did not get the training that he needed. Advocate for better training for truckers.

Unless there is more to the story; than he missed the emergency exit, his time needs to be zero.

I believe there's some definite gross negligence in our system today and this is one of them cases

I feel so sorry for the family of the ones who lost their life in this tragedy 🕊️

I wonder how many other people are serving undeserved mandatory minimum sentences.

I would think 20 years would be better for him considering that he could of use the ramp or downshift as he was going down that dangerous hill. As a former trucker and knowing how dangerous them hills in Colorado is anyone who drove trucks know you are responsible for your truck. You have to do a pre trip inspection before getting behind that wheel. You know your brakes and how your truck drive 110 years is a lot of time but them people who lost loved ones behind a trucker that wanna drive 80 MPH on a Steep Hill deserve justice as well let him get 10 years and his company can do 100 years.

That’s fine. But never give him a CDL for life. Give him a car permit so he can sit in traffic at the base of a mountain and keep looking in his rear view mirror.

PROSECUTE the owners of the company whose doors are now closed. I'm so glad he got his sentence reduced.

100 years is ridiculous. 10 years is severe. Did he intend to cause the accident? NO! Dis he act maliciously? NO! Did he screw up and screw up badly? YES! Compare this to violent criminals rapists etc and what level of sentencing they routinely get.. Particularly people with a criminal record. I suspect a fair sentence for this poor unfortunate is less than 2 years!!!!

That sentence was ridiculous. Kudos to the governor for reducing it.

10 years for killing 4 people wow and he could’ve pulled over and stopped at that ramp

That is more like it 110 years it's just absolutely insane I can see 10 years I'm glad the governor reduced his sentence

They just wanted to make sure he got properly rehabilitated with that 110 year sentence.

I’m so glad it’s no longer 110 years but my heart still breaks that it’s 10 years. But that’s much better than what it was originally.

For those claiming this was just a horrible accident... *Do you realize that he was going twice the speed limit before the accident? *Do you realize that he lied about his experience and qualifications to get his truck drivers license? *Do you do realize that he had a history of driving his truck recklessly.. *Do you do realize that he disabled his trucks monitoring system so that his company couldn't track his speed? *Do you realize that he failed to do the required maintenance on the truck (including the brake maintenance)? *Do you realize that his brakes were already smoking on the way down the hill and he pulled over to notify a company representative and they told him NOT to continue driving! Instead of listening to his boss he got back in his truck and continued driving down the hill anyways.. *do you realize that he drove by TWO safety ramps designed to stop runaway trucks? *Do you realize that several people reported seeing him driving recklessly on the highway before the crash? *These people burned to death in there cars because of the truck drivers lies and negligence! He shouldn't even have a truck drivers license, he lied to get his CDL and he is horribly unqualified! A qualified driver would have used the emergency ramps! These deaths were NOT accidental but they were 100% preventable!

I agree with the new sentence but he was going too fast and rode them brakes. He lied about his experience. I drove trucks for 14 years and going down a mountain you should be in the lowest gear and the brakes won't go out.He shouldn't be allowed to ever have a cdl again in life

Governor must be up for re- election. Politicians never do what’s in others best interest

Good, there are people out there that need those 110 years in prison, not this guy

IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT HE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS AND THE JUDGE KNOWS IT!!! GOD JUDGES US ALL EQUALLY ACCORDING TO OUR BAD ACTS HE DOES NOT DISTINGUISH RACE!!!!

God bless that governor....im glad someone out there has a heart and brains enough see that 110 year sentence was a crime in itself.

The trucking company should be the ones responsible and paying the price. He wasn't properly trained

System trying to show “authority” by overstepping their laws and authority. They tried to make an example of the dude.

No way he should have served at least 10 years for each victim 😐

Being from Colorado I remember the carnage he caused and what made it worse was its been revealed that during attempts at a plea agreement he only expected to be ticketed. Those nearby the crash risked their lives getting out the survivors out before they burned to death but four didn't and his tears were for himself not them. To many are worried about his future than the lives he took or changed forever and that's the problem since it ignores the fact he should never been behind the wheel to start with. Mederos couldn't read the signs he passed even before the devastation he caused and its why the warning that were posted to truckers on that part of I-70 and its runaway ramp were useless. Reducing the sentence should of been for the Courts and his victims to decide not politics as those rushing to his defense can't just say it was an accident like any other. What came down at those on the highway that day was more than just a vehicle but a juggernaut who in more experienced hands would likely of been just a truck stopped on a runaway ramp and its driver greatful that it was there....

He should of gotten at least 25 he missed those runaway signs the company should be liable as well

It wasn’t intentional. I think that’s fair . He got scared and panicked

Should be 5. 10 is to Dang Long. Yall be giving ppl these times and know dang well you can't do 90 days. THIS WAS A ACCIDENT.

Like many others, I'm no expert in law,& sentencing. That said...when I first saw the 110 year sentence I was caught off guard to say the least. The loss of life by those involved in the accident should NEVER be forgotten, but I don't believe that the initial sentence was justified.

Good job, Governor Polis. This is why the founders envisioned executive clemency.

If he was licensed to drive that truck, he had to pass a test on the safety laws. He was well aware on the speed limit for trucks that big and for him to be speeding at all is the problem. If he wasn't going well above the speed limit, his brakes failing wouldn't have been an issue. He would have been able to react faster.

As a truck driver, this young kid (23) had no business behind the wheel by himself. Some companies don’t let fresh drivers behind the wheel until a veteran driver drives with them and signs them off. A co worker of mine flipped a truck because he lost all his air on a steep mountain, the person he was with didn’t ask if he knew how to drive downhill and the driver didn’t say he didn’t know how. Long story short he flipped the truck because he didn’t know he could down shift on an automatic truck or use his engine brakes. Luckily no one was seriously hurt as it was a private road.

GREAT...the sentence, in the beginning, was ridiculous...our petition helped. This man did not deserve that original sentence. Some sentencing was appropo...but it needed to be fair. A little justice for this man makes the rule of law more powerful.

@NBCNews Mandatory minimum sentencing DOES NOT give power to the prosecutor in general or in this case. In fact, the DA petitioned to have a lesser sentence. Mandatory minimum sentences gives power to a legislature, who are generally uninformed of the complex criminal justice system.

10 years is still too much time for something like this.

110 years = too harsh 10 years = too lenient

The District Attorney should lose his/her position for bringing such ridiculously harsh charges against this kid in the first place. These prosecutors think they are God and do this type of crap to people all the time. All too often it is never known by the general public. The prisons are full of people who got extreme sentences while others who did worse or the same and got much less.

This is NO ACCIDENT. The driver had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to get that truck off the road, but could not understand English, AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL DOT LAW!!! Lessons learned by this verdict: DOT standards are pointless. Drivers need not be responsible. 2.5 years a life is pretty easy price to pay for negligence.

Feel sorry for the family's of the people he ",killed",, haven't heard anybody ,saying anything about those poor people..this country is so messed up.

Tell that to the 4 people who died that didn’t get a second chance. Oh wait, you can’t!

Making a decision to go on an empty ramp or hit traffic dead on, you don’t need to understand English to make a good decision.

10 years?! That’s still too much for brakes failing that was mostly the companies fault. Wtf y’all are trippin

I’d rather die than spend 10 years being beaten and abused. This is still too harsh.

Just goes to show we as the ppl can really make changes if we come together

Mandatory minimums here we go again

It's easy for people to speculate on what a person should/could have done in an accident situation in which they are not involved. It is quite a different thing to be in an accident having to make split second decisions, that may or may not turn out to have been the best upon looking backward at the outcome. I've had the unfortunate experience of being in accidents that involved equipment failure or other conditions that were unknown until moments just before impact. There are so many variables and very little time in any immediately impending/possible accident situation (especially at highway speeds where unknown factors such as equipment failure are in play) for someone to be able to pinpoint, analyze and make the best of all decisions to preserve life and property with few if any seconds before impact. Looking back and being honest within my own heart as I can be, my last thought before any accident was to hold on for dear life, and pray everyone will be okay...vehicles can be replaced but not life or always health This was a monumentaly horrific and heartbreakingly tragic accident with precious lives lost. My heart grieves for everyone who suffered loss and pray for everyone.

The D.A. overcharging him, is what caused the high sentence, let's not forget that part!

Truck drivers are required to check their brakes before entering a long or steep downgrade... If he had done his job those people may still be alive. this was an act of laziness not a drunken fool...

Driver burns up brakes due to inexperience, and fails to use runaway truck ramps😒. Instead, plows into cars killing people😑. I drive a semi, and I'm responsible for what happens in my truck. Period....👍😺

It’s sad that literally any of us could have failed brakes at any random time and be held accountable for it regardless of it being your fault or not.

Thank you so much for your Clemency Governor Polis. I am glad I voted for you. As a Colorado Native I believe 110 yrs was outrageous.

Even though he was VERY guilty

That's good common sense, how about the Dot inspect the carrier and file charges on the owners for not being compliant with safety violations

I wonder if someone from that truck driver was sentenced like a technician or a manager that assigned that invalid truck to him?

Someone like that doesnt deserve max, he isnt a murderer

10 years for the death of 4 people bs

10 years for a man who prioritized his safety over those that burned alive in their cars, shameful. Should be life in prison.

But he was speeding and out of control ten years seems light

110 years is way too much for a crime like this, especially when you have murderers and rapists that are sentenced to way less than this. It's sad people lost their lives but the time sentenced didn't fit the crime. Reckless driving shouldn't get you life in prison.

I drove trucks for ten years and sometimes accidents are unavoidable. Ten years is too much time for something he has to live with the rest of his life. Who'd want to be a professional driver if this is the type of outcome from a freak accident.

His family can see him in jail , but the families of the lives lost he caused they will never see them again.

In The Netherlands he wouldn’t even be charged with a crime. The US is a harsh country…

I have seen this over the last 10 years, these companies that just put the driver behind the wheel. They don't know what they don't know,i didnt when i started in 1986.The American truck driving school is a joke. No one tells you this,you train yourself. The reason for this poor training is ,money and regulations that allow or no allow this. Example, in truck driving school, your taught to stay in your lane when turning, good luck with that in real world . I have been to many places over the years were, if didn't drive sidewalk to sidewalk, you take out buildings, power poles,cars and ditches. What they told me in truck driving school about going down mountains is, go down in a gear lower than you when up. I haven't seen a mountain that is the same on both sides. Backing just did it once . Law enforcement get extensive training in a real world situations. Truck diving school doesn't. The system failed truck drivers for years. Also the company that put that young man in a truck unprepared. Training truck driver should be trained by industry trucking leaders in safety, not by government legal regs that say stay in your lane while turning, the get fired by truck company. Only 1 in 10 driver make it in the first year,so clearly not an easy ,simple job.

20 years would have been better. The accident was totally his fault. 4 people dead.

The system throws away more lives unjustly than should be allowed .

I'm a trucker and don't stand for him at all. He knew brakes were bad and drove, he passed runway ramps, passed multiple side places drive truck off and tried to run after crash. Deserves life for taking 4 lives.

It's good that he didn't have to spend 110 years. It wasn't his fault.

He should be free, it was not his fault at all. It was a failed brakes, this how American is now we do something about it, we can sit around no more we have take action.

The government need to put a system in all truck stop where they check all trucks to see if they have safety maintenance done. There are a lot of them that don’t do maintenance until it’s needed and it should not be like that! The key is safety first! If it is not done, they should pull that truck and cargo out of the roads!

I’m happy his sentence got reduced. Murderers, rapists, and drunk drivers don’t get sentenced close to that!

This seems more reasonable. This was not purely an incidental accident, but it also wasn't premeditated murder.

10 years for 4 lives? Sounds like he got a heck of a deal. I agree 110 years was extreme but 10? Is too lite!

No parole after 5 years! Do ten years solid. The prosecutor Is going to request some of the victims families be heard in this. 110 years is excessive but you can't let him skate thru this.

Didn’t his brakes fail? Why go for the driver when it was a mechanic’s fault?

May Almighty God protects us from this type of situation. drive carefully and save lives And let us be fair to each other.

Still too long for an accident. This could happen to anyone. 10 years of his life are taken away for an accident.

Now I believe in the justice system. God is great. Justice prevailed and is served accordingly.

Right On!!! 10 years is still a long long time, but he will at least make it out and be with his family again. With good behavior he can get out in way less time as well.

10 years for killing four people? Disgusting.