Pablo Vazquez, who parked his police unit on train tracks with a woman inside, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge as part of a plea deal.
Author: Jeremy Jojola
Published: 11:56 AM MST December 5, 2023
Updated: 7:38 PM MST December 5, 2023
GREELEY, Colo. — As a woman continues to recover with substantial physical injuries after getting hit by a train while in a police car, the officer who parked on train tracks during a traffic stop pleaded guilty on Tuesday to misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
The incident happened near Fort Lupton in September 2022. Pablo Vazquez, who was an officer for Platteville at the time, pulled over Yareni Rios on suspicion of road rage with a gun.
Vazquez parked his unit on train tracks during the traffic stop, while former Fort Lupton Police Officer Jordan Steinke placed Rios in the back of the police unit. Shortly after, a freight train collided with the police unit while Rios was handcuffed inside.
Rios survived the collision but suffered numerous broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken back and a traumatic brain injury. She has a pending lawsuit against Platteville and Fort Lupton.
Credit: Yareni Rios
A photo of Yareni Rios before she was hit by a freight train while detained in a police vehicle.
Vazquez was originally charged with five misdemeanor counts and pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment on Tuesday in Weld County District Court.
A judge sentenced Vazquez to 12 months of unsupervised probation. If Vazquez stays out of legal trouble for the next year, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed and the case will be sealed.
Vazquez gave the judge a very brief statement about what happened that night.
“Unfortunately the sequence of events occurred and one thing happened right after the other. That’s all I have to say, your honor,” Vazquez said.
Attorney Christopher Ponce, who represents Rios, called the outcome of the sentencing “disappointing,” adding his client wished there was more of a permanent conviction.
“For her, the most important thing is that he just not go back to policing. I think for the sake of the community and for the sake of any other potential future person who might come into contact with him, I think that is the hope and that is yet to be seen,” Ponce said.
Tuesday’s guilty plea will not impact Vazquez’s police certification, meaning it’s possible he could be hired as an officer by another agency.
Vazquez is not working as an officer. He declined to comment to 9NEWS further after the hearing.
This summer, Steinke was convicted of misdemeanor assault and subsequently fired from the police department after a criminal trial.
Pablo Vazquez, who parked his police unit on train tracks with a woman inside, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge as part of a plea deal. Author: Jeremy Jojola Published: 11:56 AM MST December 5, 2023 Updated: 7:38 PM MST December 5, 2023 GREELEY, Colo. — As a woman continues to recover with substantial physical injuries after getting hit by a train while in a police car, the officer who parked on train tracks during a traffic stop pleaded guilty on Tuesday to misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
The incident happened near Fort Lupton in September 2022. Pablo Vazquez, who was an officer for Platteville at the time, pulled over Yareni Rios on suspicion of road rage with a gun.
Vazquez parked his unit on train tracks during the traffic stop, while former Fort Lupton Police Officer Jordan Steinke placed Rios in the back of the police unit. Shortly after, a freight train collided with the police unit while Rios was handcuffed inside.
Rios survived the collision but suffered numerous broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken back and a traumatic brain injury. She has a pending lawsuit against Platteville and Fort Lupton.
Credit: Yareni Rios A photo of Yareni Rios before she was hit by a freight train while detained in a police vehicle. Vazquez was originally charged with five misdemeanor counts and pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment on Tuesday in Weld County District Court.
A judge sentenced Vazquez to 12 months of unsupervised probation. If Vazquez stays out of legal trouble for the next year, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed and the case will be sealed.
Vazquez gave the judge a very brief statement about what happened that night.
“Unfortunately the sequence of events occurred and one thing happened right after the other. That’s all I have to say, your honor,” Vazquez said.
Attorney Christopher Ponce, who represents Rios, called the outcome of the sentencing “disappointing,” adding his client wished there was more of a permanent conviction.
“For her, the most important thing is that he just not go back to policing. I think for the sake of the community and for the sake of any other potential future person who might come into contact with him, I think that is the hope and that is yet to be seen,” Ponce said.
Tuesday’s guilty plea will not impact Vazquez’s police certification, meaning it’s possible he could be hired as an officer by another agency.
Vazquez is not working as an officer. He declined to comment to 9NEWS further after the hearing.
This summer, Steinke was convicted of misdemeanor assault and subsequently fired from the police department after a criminal trial.