Introduction:
Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, a Colorado woman, was awarded $8.5 million in a lawsuit against the police after being badly injured in 2022 when the parked police car she was handcuffed in was struck by a freight train. The incident, captured in dramatic video footage, left Rios with numerous injuries, including nine broken ribs, a broken arm, a fractured sternum, and injuries to her head and back. This settlement brings some closure to a traumatic event that will have lasting physical and emotional impacts on Rios for the rest of her life.
Subtitles:
1. The Incident and Injuries
2. Lawsuit against the Police
3. Dramatic Video Footage
4. Legal Outcome and Settlement
5. Recovery and Closure
Yareni Rios-Gonzalez was detained by police in September 2022 for allegedly showing a gun during a road-rage incident. While in police custody, she was handcuffed and placed in a parked patrol car as officers searched her vehicle. Unfortunately, the patrol car was parked directly on train tracks, and a Union Pacific train struck the vehicle. The impact left Rios with nine broken ribs, a broken arm, a fractured sternum, and various injuries to her head and back. The severity of these injuries led to a lengthy recovery process that continues to this day.
Following the incident, Rios filed a lawsuit against the Platteville and Fort Lupton police departments in northern Colorado, as well as against the individual officers involved in the case. Two of the officers have since been fired and criminally charged for their roles in the incident. The lawsuit sought to hold the police departments and officers accountable for their negligence, which had resulted in Rios’ severe injuries and lasting trauma.
The incident was captured in dramatic video footage from police body cameras and dash cameras. The videos show officers scrambling as the train approaches, with one officer repeatedly shouting, “Oh my God!” and another yelling, “Stay back!” The train’s horn can be heard blaring in the background before the crash, highlighting the chaotic and dangerous situation that unfolded due to the parked patrol car’s placement on the tracks.
After a hard-fought legal battle, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez was awarded $8.5 million in a settlement with the police departments involved. The award will be paid by both towns in an insurance arrangement, highlighting the accountability and responsibility that the departments had to take for their actions. Attorney Paul Wilkinson, representing Rios, described the settlement as an “excellent result” and a significant step towards providing justice for his client.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges Rios continues to face, she is up and moving around, showing resilience in the face of adversity. The settlement provides some measure of closure for Rios, allowing her to focus on her recovery and healing process without the added burden of ongoing legal battles. While the incident will have lasting impacts on her life, the settlement represents a positive step towards holding those responsible accountable and providing Rios with the support she needs to move forward.