DENVER — A jury on Wednesday convicted a truck driver in connection with a Weld County crash that killed a Wyoming family of five in June 2022.
Jesus Puebla was found guilty of 10 counts, including five counts of vehicular homicide - reckless driving, vehicular assault - reckless, and careless driving.
The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. on June 13, 2022, on northbound Interstate 25 at mile marker 243 and involved four vehicles, including a Kenworth box truck. Five people in a 2015 Ford Edge were killed, and the driver of another vehicle suffered minor injuries, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Troopers said the driver of the box truck, later identified as Puebla, rear-ended the Ford Edge after the SUV slowed for northbound traffic up ahead. The collision set off a series of other crashes involving two other vehicles.
Authorities said they believe Puebla's box truck struck the Ford Edge a second time before the truck hit the cable rail in the median, coming to a stop.
Weld County
Truck driver charged with several felonies after deadly crash on I-25
All five victims in the Ford Edge were family members from Gillette, Wyoming, and included:
• Aaron Godines, 20, who was the driver
• Halie Everts, 20
• Christina Godines, 47
• Tessleigh Godines, 3 months
• Emiliano Godines, 51
Puebla was not injured in the crash.
Court documents state the box truck was traveling at 76 mph at the time of the crash, while the Ford Edge was traveling at roughly 6 mph due to traffic.
Puebla's sentencing is scheduled for June 21 at 1:30 p.m.
