A Colorado woman, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, has secured an $8.5 million settlement in a civil lawsuit after she was struck by a freight train while handcuffed in the back of a police car.
The accident resulted in severe injuries and raised significant concerns over police misconduct.
The near-fatal event occurred in 2022 when Rios-Gonzalez, then 20, was pulled over by Sgt. Pablo Vazquez of the Platteville Police Department for allegedly brandishing a handgun during a road rage incident.
Officers Jordan Steinke and Ryan Thomeczek from the nearby Fort Lupton Police Department arrived at the scene to assist with the arrest, as the incident had occurred within their jurisdiction.
In a critical error, Sgt. Vazquez parked his patrol car directly on active train tracks, and Rios-Gonzalez was placed inside the vehicle, handcuffed.
Despite the sound of an approaching train horn, none of the officers reacted in time. As the freight train barreled down, the officers fled the scene, leaving Rio-Gonzalez trapped in the backseat.
The train collided with the patrol car, severely injuring Rios-Gonzalez, who sustained a broken arm and significant head trauma.
CNN reported that Rios-Gonzalez filed a civil lawsuit against the three officers and their respective police departments, claiming negligence and reckless disregard for her safety. The case culminated in an $8.5 million settlement, which will be split between the two police departments.
Additionally, two of the officers involved faced criminal charges, were convicted of misdemeanors, and have since been dismissed from their positions.
