Cuban truck driver Rogel Lázaro Aguilera-Mederos has broken his silence after years without public statements, speaking from prison in an exclusive interview shared on social media. This interview was conducted by Cuban-American journalist Yesmani Gómez, a Telemundo Colorado presenter, just days after the Colorado Parole Board denied Aguilera-Mederos' request for release.
The decision came on October 16, as the Board fell short of the required four favorable votes from its seven members to approve his release, even ahead of his official eligibility date set for December 30, 2026.
In a poignant moment during the interview, Aguilera-Mederos reflected on the four lives lost in the 2019 Interstate 70 crash: "I wish God had taken me instead of them."
Regarding the reasons for the denial, Aguilera-Mederos was candid: "The reason given for denying my release was that I showed no remorse, took no responsibility for what happened, and essentially, they said I wasn't ready to be released and lacked empathy."
Challenging this justification, he publicly urged authorities to release the recording of his parole hearing: "I ask and give permission to anyone with the authority, especially them, to release the video of my interview with the Parole Board. Let the public judge for themselves."
Upon learning of the refusal via television news, his response was one of religious resignation: "Thank you, Jehovah. And if my staying here another year brings happiness to someone, so be it. God's timing is perfect."
Health Concerns in Prison
Aguilera-Mederos also publicly revealed serious health deterioration in prison for the first time: "I began vomiting blood, bleeding internally. They told me to drink a lot of water, gave me two Tylenol, and sent me to sleep," he recounted. It was only after persistent demands that he was taken by ambulance to intensive care.
Hospital specialists diagnosed him with Crohn's disease, attributing the severity to delayed treatment: "Because they took so long to bring you from prison, we couldn't provide the appropriate hospital care, and now you have Crohn's disease. It's an incurable lifelong condition." As of the interview, he had not received necessary treatment, despite medical warnings that the disease could lead to cancer.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The accident that led to his imprisonment occurred on April 25, 2019, on I-70, west of Denver. Aguilera-Mederos, 23 at the time, was driving a lumber-loaded semi-truck when the brakes failed on a steep descent. The truck reached speeds of up to 85 mph, crashing into stopped traffic and causing a chain reaction involving approximately 28 vehicles. Four people died, and ten others were injured.
In December 2021, Judge A. Bruce Jones sentenced Aguilera-Mederos to 110 years in prison, the mandatory minimum under Colorado's consecutive sentencing laws, a penalty the judge himself deemed excessive. The sentence sparked a massive public outcry: a Change.org petition garnered over five million signatures, prompting Governor Jared Polis to commute it to 10 years on December 30 of that year.
Following this month's denial, Colorado authorities have scheduled his next parole hearing for September 2027. If parole is not granted then, his projected release date is December 13, 2029.
Understanding Rogel Aguilera's Legal Battle
What led to Rogel Aguilera-Mederos' imprisonment?
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was imprisoned due to a tragic accident on April 25, 2019, when the brakes on his semi-truck failed, leading to a multi-vehicle collision on I-70 near Denver. The crash resulted in four fatalities and several injuries.
Why was Aguilera-Mederos' parole denied?
His parole was denied because the board concluded that he lacked remorse, did not accept responsibility, and was deemed not ready for release due to a perceived lack of empathy.
What health issues has Aguilera-Mederos faced in prison?
Aguilera-Mederos has experienced severe health problems, including vomiting blood and internal bleeding. He was eventually diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a condition that could have been exacerbated by delayed medical treatment in prison.