Truck driver convicted of Weld County crash that left five people dead

WELD COUNTY, Colorado – The man who killed five family members in a traffic crash just over two years ago because he failed to slow down for stopped traffic will be sentenced Friday afternoon in Weld County.

On June 13, 2022, Jesus Puebla was driving a truck carrying mail for the U.S. Postal Service northbound on Interstate 25 in Weld County when he failed to slow down for a traffic jam and crashed into the back of a car carrying a family.

Aaron Godines and Hailie Everts were killed along with their young daughter Tessleigh. Aaron’s parents Christina and Emiliano were also in the car and died. Another driver survived but suffered several broken ribs and vertebrae.

Puebla was charged with 10 counts, including five counts of homicide with a vehicle and one count of assault with a vehicle. In March, a jury found him guilty on all counts.

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Puebla’s attorney had argued that Caminantes Trucking, the company that owned the truck, was at fault. A Colorado State Patrol investigation and the truck driver’s attorneys both concluded that the truck’s brakes were not working. Even if they had worked, prosecutors argued, Puebla was driving recklessly for many miles before the crash and failed to react to stopped traffic ahead of him because of his distraction.

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Federal court records show that Caminantes Trucking did not have insurance on the vehicle and attempted to obtain insurance less than an hour after the accident.

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