“I wish I had died instead,” says Cuban truck-driver found guilty in deadly Colorado crash

Last month, a Colorado jury found Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a Cuban-born resident of Texas, guilty on 27 of 41 charges related to a deadly April 2019 crash on Colorado’s I-70 that left four people dead. The charges against him included four counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Telemundo Denver interviewed Aguilera-Mederos earlier this week at the Jefferson County jail where he is being held until Dec. 13 when he will face sentencing. 

The interview can be read below:

Rogel, why do you wish to speak with us today?

That’s something I will try to explain, but I would like to tell the families that this was never my intention, ever. I would like their forgiveness, and for God to perform a miracle and touch their hearts.

What would be a miracle?

To me, a miracle would be to one day be able to hug those families, and tell them face-to-face how I feel.

Do you want to speak with those families?

Yes, I would like to speak with them and tell them how sorry I am and ask for their forgiveness. It was never my intention and I swear to God that I wish I had died instead. Every day I ask God why he let me live. I’d trade my life for those four – only God knows why he let me live.

Some witnesses say you could have taken an exit ramp on I-70?

At the time, I didn’t see those ramps. I didn’t see them, it’s a difficult moment to describe.

Did you have previous experience driving in the mountains?

I had more than a year driving in Texas. I didn’t have experience in the mountains, my breaks had never failed before.

Did you have training for that? 

No, one can never train for that. Your heart races, your palms sweat and you don't know what to do. 

Is there anything you regret?

God knows how I am, I wouldn’t call it regret – I’d call it wishing I had died instead of those people. God knows I’m speaking the truth and I have often asked him why them and not me.