In a tragic incident on US 285 near Conifer last week, a semi truck driver was arrested in connection to a fatal crash. Shockingly, it has now been revealed that the driver, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was in the United States illegally and had recently been ordered to be removed to Mexico. This information was confirmed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who had been tracking Cruz-Mendoza's immigration history.

According to the investigation conducted by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the crash occurred on Tuesday, June 11, when Mendoza was driving a semi truck hauling pipes and angle iron. At around 5 p.m., near milepost 232 south of Conifer, Mendoza allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road. The semi truck rolled onto its side and spilled its load onto five vehicles, resulting in one fatality and leaving another person seriously injured. The victims' identities have yet to be disclosed.

ICE revealed that Mendoza, who had been driving for Monique Trucking, LLC at the time of the crash, had been on their radar since his arrest in Jefferson County back in April 2002. Since then, he has faced multiple removals and has returned to Mexico on at least 16 occasions, with the most recent removal occurring on May 29 of this year.

The arrest of Mendoza came two days after the crash, with the Colorado State Patrol charging him with vehicular assault and vehicular homicide. As the investigation unfolds, Denver7 Investigates has reached out to Monique Trucking, LLC for their response to Mendoza's immigration history.

The revelation of Mendoza's immigration status and his history of removals raises questions about oversight and enforcement within the immigration system. The tragedy on US 285 serves as a stark reminder of the importance of immigration enforcement and ensuring public safety.

As the case moves forward, authorities will continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, while immigration officials will likely conduct a thorough investigation into the process that permitted Mendoza to reenter the United States multiple times despite repeated removals.

It remains to be seen what actions will be taken in response to this devastating incident, but for now, it is evident that the focus will be on strengthening immigration policies and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.