DENVER — A tractor-trailer driver who allegedly caused a fatality accident along U.S. 285 on Tuesday, June 11, in Colorado was in the United States illegally and had already been deported back to Mexico more than a dozen times, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has said.
According to a report by news station Denver7, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, had been ordered by ICE to return to Mexico two weeks before the fatal crash.
Before that, ICE officials said he was arrested and deported 16 times, beginning in 2002.
Cruz-Mendoza faces vehicular homicide charges after police say he drove his southbound 18-wheeler off the edge of the road, causing it to roll onto its side and dump a load of pipes and angle iron onto five vehicles.
One person died at the scene, while another was seriously injured, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Mendoza was driving for a company called Monique Trucking LLC at the time of the crash.
He was arrested two days after the crash.
Monique Trucking officials have not commented on the issue.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
I’m so happy that animas will be able to cross the highway safely
Smfh!! Deported 16 times!! And was ordered back just 2 weeks prior to accident! What is wrong with this country to allow this to happen? To continually happen! Now an innocent family has suffered because of our government not enforcing the laws and allowing illegals into our country over and over again with little to nil consequences! It’s almost embarrassing to be an American because of how f$&ked up our government has become!! Now Biden has allowed at least a million more in the last two years to enter our country… ILLEGALLY .. on our dollar! I pray this does not occur again.
The Owner, Manrique from Indio CA (where 75% are illegals), had this to say: “Well, what can I say? The poor thing, he died.” No – seriously, that was his actual statement when asked by a reporter. Here’s the vile Owner’s number: (720) 548-7406, which is available online as part of his corporate filing. Folks should let him know that his casual reply is not sufficient.
When does this stop. Why are we allowing people who are not licensed with a CDL to drive these vehicles. This is a big issue and it needs to stop. You’re responsible if you sell a vehicle to a habitual drunk driver and you can get in trouble but these people can put a semi in the hands of someone who doesn’t have a CDL and they kill people.
I totally agree with your statement Laura. The illegal immigration has caused traffic crashes, drug infiltration, massive theft, rapes, murder, and more. And the illegals know they can just get away with it, run back to Mexico, and then run back into the U.S. . On top of the fact that we are funding all of the illegals food, shelter, medical, and education. But NO help for an American Veteran. It is so backwards and messed up. I have been a CDL driver almost 30 years now, and it is complete stupidity to put an untrained driver behind the wheel.
more blood on bidens hands! how many more innocent Americans have to die at the hands of these illegals? not to mention the billions of dollars wasred on these people from taxpayers. i am sick of it this needs to end. Biden belongs in jail for not enforcing federal laws which he took an oath to uphold. this man is evil and anti American and needs to go now!
Amen!
Hopefully this so called truck driver does many years in prison for killing a Colorado resident and injuring others! He was hired by Monique trucking out of California that has a history of hiring illegal immigrants that are unlicensed and illegally here in the United States. We can thank our lovely president and all other elected officials for allowing people like this into our country and having open borders!! Deported 16 times, this driver is and still driving in the USA. THANKS BIDEN and all the other left wing liberal democrats that allow this crap to happen in our country! !! ALL I CAN SAY IS GOD BLESS THE USA, WE NEED IT!!!