2022, Yareni Rios arrested in connection with an alleged road rage incident. When police detained her near railroad tracks in Weld County, Colorado, they locked her in a police car parked on the tracks. Soon after, a train hit the car, leaving Rios with broken ribs, a broken arm and injuries to his head, back and legs.
Rios sued the officials last year. This week, two Colorado towns agreed to pay her a settlement of up to $8.5 million.
“This is a great outcome,” Rios’ attorney Paul Wilkinson said. Tell 9 newsA local news station said, “Especially when dealing with smaller cities with limited funds, we are fighting an uphill battle for our customers.”
On September 16, 2022, Fort Lupton Police Officer Pablo Vasquez pulled Rios over for alleged involvement in an earlier road rage incident. according to arrive 9 news. Rios stopped behind the tracks while Vasquez stopped directly on them. After being handcuffed, another officer, Jordan Steinke, placed Rios in the back seat of the car.
according to Colorado Public Radio reported that as police searched Rios’ vehicle, a freight train approached. Although the train conductor honked his horn several times, the police did not respond. The train hit Vasquez’s vehicle at nearly 48 mph, causing the vehicle to roll. travel Stop after about half a mile.
video lens Descriptions of the incident show the officers’ shock after the collision.
“She’s right there,” a police officer said after the train hit the vehicle.
“Oh shit. Oh shit,” another person responded.
Rios filed the lawsuit in January 2023, alleging that officers acted negligently and recklessly when they trapped her in Vasquez’s vehicle that was parked on the tracks. After more than a year of litigation, the lawsuit was settled this week, with Rios awarded more than $8 million in damages.
Both Vasquez and Steinke were criminally charged for their roles in the incident. In July 2023, Stank was discovered guilty misdemeanors, reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. In December of the same year, Vasquez plead Guilty of misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
