Report Reveals Troubled Police Record for Colorado Cop Who Parked on Train Tracks
A woman detained in a police vehicle that was later hit by a train in Colorado is still recovering, while an investigation into the officer(s) responsible continue.
According to a report by CBS News, Sergeant Pablo Vasquez of the Platteville Police Department has been revealed as the officer who parked his police vehicle directly on a set of train tracks.
Train Hits Police Vehicle in Weld County
On September 16, 2022, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez was stopped by Sgt. Pablo Vasquez after being suspected of a road rage incident involving a firearm.
Rios-Gonzalez pulled over on US85 and County Rd. 38 after passing the train tracks, while Sgt. Vasquez chose to park directly on the tracks themselves.
Shortly after Officer Jordan Steinke with the Fort Lupton Police Department arrived on the scene and placed Rios-Gonzalez into Sgt. Vasquez's patrol vehicle.
The officers were searching Rios-Gonzalez's vehicle when the train ripped through the Sgt. Vasquez's patrol car.
Platteville Police Sergeant Had Record of Poor Performance
CBS News dug up some major dirt on Sgt. Vasquez from the Federal Heights Police Department, where he was employed prior to Platteville and discovered that he has a history of "poor quality of work."
During Sgt. Vasquez's time with the Federal Heights Police Department, he was subject to 5 internal affairs investigations that were brought on not only by his superiors but also by fellow officers.
One internal investigation even recommended that Sgt. Vasquez be demoted, however, that never happened. Vasquez eventually left the Federal Heights PD and began working for Platteville, who told CBS News that they did in fact check Vasquez's background and job history prior to his hiring.
Yareni Rios-Gonzalez Has A Long Road to Recovery
While an investigation is being conducted into the actions of the officers involved in this case by the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, Rios-Gonzalez is being faced with a long road to recovery.
Remarkably, the 20-year-old woman from Greeley survived the horrific train crash and reportedly awoke in the hospital with nine broken ribs, a broken arm, broken teeth, and injuries to her head.
Rios-Gonzalez is the mother to a 2-year-old daughter, and her own mother has started a Gofundme to help with medical costs and other expenses.