Local Colorado officials have reached an $8.5 million settlement with a woman who was hospitalized in 2022 after being left handcuffed in a police SUV that was then hit by a train.
The city of Fort Lupton and town of Platteville, Colorado, agreed on the settlement with the victim, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, according to a release from the Fort Lupton Police Department. The settlement amount will be split equally between the town and city and paid by their insurers, according to attorney Eric M. Ziporin, whose office represents the city.
Rios, who was a suspect in a road rage case, survived the September 2022 collision but suffered nine broken ribs, a broken arm and other injuries.
“This voluntary settlement is to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, recognizes the gravity of this matter, and allows all parties to move forward,” the Fort Lupton police department said.
Fort Lupton police officer Jordan Steinke, who placed Rios in the vehicle, was found guilty last year of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault in the crash and was sentenced to serve 30 months of supervised probation and 100 hours of public service.
On the day of the crash, Steinke joined a traffic stop in which officers had pulled over Rios, who authorities said was suspected of brandishing a gun at another driver earlier in the evening. Steinke put Rios into the cruiser of Platteville police officer Pablo Vasquez, who had parked in the middle of a railroad crossing.
Body and dash camera video released by police showed Rios screaming for help as the train approached and slammed into the vehicle.
Steinke argued during her trial that she didn’t notice the location of the railroad tracks despite several warning signs, including one next to where she parked her vehicle.
The officer said she was not fully aware of her surroundings because she was concerned about approaching a suspect who may have a gun. “You can only divide your attention so much,” Steinke testified.
CNN has sought comment from the Town of Platteville and an attorney for Rios regarding the settlement.
Fort Lupton is about 30 miles north of Denver.
lionoflinwood on June 5th, 2024 at 04:42 UTC »
The officer will not spend a day in a jail cell; their sentence is 2.5 years of probation and 2.5 weeks of community service (of course assuming they aren't freed on a bogus appeal and also assuming the judge doesn't let them off probation after 15 months). The officer is not responsible for any of the $8.5 million.
Yowz3rs87 on June 5th, 2024 at 04:32 UTC »
$8.5 million is nice but she’s probably going to have some long lasting effects of being locked in a car that got hit by a fucking train.
the_gouged_eye on June 5th, 2024 at 04:30 UTC »
“This voluntary settlement is to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, recognizes the gravity of this matter, and allows all parties to move forward,” the Fort Lupton police department said.
He says that like the cops are gonna help with the settlement.