A truck driver sentenced to 110 years in prison in Colorado (United States) for killing four people in a traffic accident had his sentence reduced to 10 years on Thursday.
More than 5 million people, including reality star Kim Kardashian, have asked for leniency in an online petition for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, who had been given a 110-year minimum sentence, in accordance with Colorado law .
Colorado law really has to be changed and this is so unfair.
@GovofCO is a really good person and I know he will do the right thing.
- Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 21, 2021
The length of this sentence "is simply not proportional to your actions, nor with the sentences imposed on others for similar crimes," Colorado Governor Jared Polis said Thursday in a letter to Rogel Aguilera-Mederos .
"I have decided to commute your sentence"
"There is an urgent need to remedy this unjust sentence and to restore confidence in the regularity and fairness of our criminal justice system, and therefore I have decided to commute your sentence now," he added.
VIDEO.
United States: controversy after the conviction of a driver to 110 years in prison for a road accident
Cuban immigrant Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was carrying wood in April 2019 when his brakes failed on a descent, without using the emergency lane.
In its mad rush, his truck had caused a pile-up with 28 vehicles, killing four people and injuring several people.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos had been found guilty of the 27 charges against him.
The truck driver will be eligible to apply for parole from December 2026.