Police car hit by train Suspect inside Full Police Video Full Breakdown Analysis

while Rios-Gonzalez was detained inside. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the incident, the ensuing investigations, and the outcomes for everyone involved.

THE INCIDENT: ROAD RAGE CALL LEADS TO A DEVASTATING CRASH

On September 16, 2022, police in Platteville, Colorado, responded to a 911 call reporting a road rage incident involving a firearm. The caller alleged that a woman had tailgated their vehicle and brandished a gun. Officers from multiple jurisdictions, including the Platteville Police Department, Fort Lupton Police Department, and Weld County Sheriff’s Office, coordinated to locate the suspect’s vehicle.

Platteville Sergeant Pablo Vazquez identified and stopped the suspect, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, just past a set of railroad tracks on Weld County Road 38. However, Vazquez parked his patrol car directly on the tracks. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop, placing Rios-Gonzalez in handcuffs and seating her in the back of the patrol car. While officers searched her vehicle, disaster struck: a northbound freight train collided with the police cruiser, which still contained Rios-Gonzalez.

The collision left Rios-Gonzalez with nine broken ribs, a fractured sternum, a broken arm, a broken leg, and multiple injuries to her head and back. She miraculously survived but required extensive medical treatment. Body camera and dashcam footage captured the horrifying moments leading up to the crash, showing a train barreling toward the car as horns blared.

INVESTIGATIONS AND INITIAL LEGAL ACTIONS

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on the officers’ actions and whether they adhered to standard safety protocols. The Colorado State Patrol also examined the collision. Criticism centered on why Vazquez left his vehicle on the tracks and why no officer moved the car after placing Rios-Gonzalez inside.

By October 2022, the CBI had completed its investigation and forwarded the findings to the Weld County District Attorney. Both Vazquez and Fort Lupton Officer Jordan Steinke faced criminal charges. Vazquez was charged with five misdemeanor counts, including reckless endangerment, careless driving, and obstructing a highway. Steinke faced more severe charges, including felony counts of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter and second-degree assault, along with a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge.

In December 2022, Vazquez was terminated from the Platteville Police Department. Around the same time, Rios-Gonzalez filed a civil lawsuit against both officers and their respective departments, alleging gross negligence and reckless disregard for her safety.

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AND TRIAL OUTCOMES

The legal proceedings for all involved spanned nearly two years. On February 23, 2023, the District Attorney dropped the felony second-degree assault charge against Steinke but retained the attempted manslaughter charge. In March, Steinke pleaded not guilty, and her case proceeded to trial.

Meanwhile, Rios-Gonzalez reached a plea agreement for her involvement in the road rage incident. On June 30, 2023, she pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor menacing charge, receiving a one-year deferred sentence.

Steinke’s trial concluded on July 28, 2023. She was found guilty of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault but acquitted of attempted manslaughter. The judge ruled that prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Steinke knowingly intended harm. On September 15, 2023, she was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation and later dismissed from the Fort Lupton Police Department.

Vazquez, who had been charged with multiple misdemeanors, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment on December 5, 2023. He was sentenced to one year of probation, with the agreement that the charge would be dismissed and the case sealed after successful completion.

THE SETTLEMENT: $8.5 MILLION FOR RIOS-GONZALEZ

The civil lawsuit filed by Yareni Rios-Gonzalez culminated in a significant settlement. On June 4, 2024, the cities involved agreed to pay $8.5 million in damages. This settlement acknowledged the officers’ failure to protect Rios-Gonzalez while she was in custody, a duty of care that was grossly neglected. The payout aims to cover her medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation, and emotional suffering from the incident.

LESSONS LEARNED AND QUESTIONS REMAINING

This case highlights the importance of training and accountability within law enforcement. The actions—or lack thereof—of Officers Vazquez and Steinke led to a preventable tragedy. Public outrage over the incident emphasized the need for reforms in police procedures, particularly regarding detainee safety.

The Police Bodycam Video and Dashcam footage of the incident remain crucial pieces of evidence, shedding light on the decisions made by the officers. Critics argue that negligence, compounded by poor judgment, nearly cost Rios-Gonzalez her life. The event serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibilities entrusted to law enforcement and the catastrophic consequences of failure.

QUICK SUMMARY Charges and Court Hearings: Yareni Rios-Gonzalez Train Collision Case

The legal proceedings stemming from the incident involving Yareni Rios-Gonzalez and the collision of a train with a police car unfolded over nearly two years, involving multiple charges and outcomes for the individuals involved.

Following the September 2022 incident, both Platteville Police Sergeant Pablo Vazquez and Fort Lupton Police Officer Jordan Steinke faced criminal charges. Vazquez was charged with five misdemeanors, including reckless endangerment, obstructing a highway, careless driving, and parking where prohibited. Steinke faced more severe charges: felonies for criminal attempt to commit manslaughter and second-degree assault, along with a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge.

In December 2022, Vazquez was terminated from the Platteville Police Department. Meanwhile, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, the victim of the collision, filed a civil lawsuit against both officers and their respective departments, alleging gross negligence. In February 2023, prosecutors dropped the second-degree assault charge against Steinke but retained the attempted manslaughter charge. She pleaded not guilty in March 2023.

In June 2023, Rios-Gonzalez reached a plea agreement, pleading no contest to a misdemeanor menacing charge stemming from the original road rage incident. She received a one-year deferred sentence. Shortly after, Steinke stood trial and, in July 2023, was convicted of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. The judge found insufficient evidence to convict her of attempted manslaughter, ruling she had not knowingly intended harm. Steinke was sentenced in September 2023 to 30 months of supervised probation and was subsequently terminated from her position with the Fort Lupton Police Department.

Vazquez’s case concluded in December 2023, when he pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to one year of probation, with the agreement that the charge would be dismissed and sealed upon successful completion.

Finally, the civil lawsuit filed by Rios-Gonzalez resulted in a significant settlement. On June 4, 2024, the cities involved agreed to pay $8.5 million in damages, acknowledging the officers’ failure to protect her while in custody. The settlement aims to cover her medical expenses, rehabilitation, and emotional trauma resulting from the preventable incident.

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