Man arrested for negligent homicide, charged with reckless driving instead

The driver of a semi-truck who was arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter and assault following last week’s fatal crash on U.S. 285 has instead been charged with negligent driving, according to court records.

Ignacio Cruz Mendoza, a 47-year-old Mexican, was charged with one count of negligent driving causing death and three counts of negligent driving causing personal injury, court records show.

While vehicular manslaughter – also known as reckless driving causing death – is a felony punishable by up to 12 years in prison, reckless driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of one year under Colorado law and is a misdemeanor. Assault with a vehicle – also a felony – carries a sentence of up to six years in prison per count.

Mendoza is a Mexican citizen who is in the United States illegally and has been deported or voluntarily left the country 16 times since 2002, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Monday.