A Denver truck driver has been charged with multiple felonies for causing the multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 that killed a family of five this summer as they were traveling home to Gillette, Wyo.
The driver, 26-year-old Jesus Puebla, was charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular assault, and other violations including careless driving, reckless driving, and driving without a valid commercial license, according to a news release from the Weld County District Attorney’s office. Puebla had previously had a commercial driver’s license, but it was canceled on June 9.
At 1:31 p.m. on June 13, a 1999 Kenworth semi truck allegedly driven by Puebla was heading northbound when it rear-ended a 2015 Ford Edge, killing all five people in the vehicle. The truck then hit another vehicle and caused that vehicle to hit another car. The crash occurred in Mead, near mile marker 243 on I-25.
The family members who died were identified as Emiliano Godines, Christina Godines, Aaron Godinez, Halie Everts and Tessleigh Godinez. Oscar Bustillos and Jesus Pena were also injured in the crash.
Puebla was taken into custody Thursday evening, and no court date has been assigned yet for his case.
