Pueblo mother hopes for justice in son’s tragic death
A mother whose teenage son was ejected from a SUV and then hit by an oncoming train wants to know why the driver involved hasn’t been charged six months after the crash.
Eric Velasquez, 18, was ejected from a white Ford Explorer on Interstate 25 on Aug. 10, 2014, around 12:40 a.m. Police said the driver was heading north when he was speeding and lost control by the 13 Street exit, causing the SUV to roll off the interstate. Velasquez was thrown onto the path of an oncoming train.
“I fell to my knees and I said not my Eric. Not my baby,” said Glenda Velasquez, Eric’s mom, recalling when she first heard the news.
His family organized a motorcycle ride last weekend to remember him — Eric dreamed of someday owning a bike.
Sgt. Howard Jackson, who leads the department’s traffic unit, said a 16-year-old male was driving the SUV involved in the crash, but he hasn’t been charged.
“My son is the only one who paid the consequence in this accident. My son, my family. No one else is paying the consequences for a bad choice that was made that evening,” Velasquez said.
KRDO NewsChannel 13 has learned the SUV belongs to a longtime employee of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office — that employee’s son was behind the wheel that night.
“I can’t help to believe truly in my heart the reason justice has not been served for my son is due to his family’s employment in the Sheriff’s Department,” Velasquez said. “If the shoe was on the other foot, my son would already be either under house arrest, locked up, charges against him.”
Jackson said police are investigating whether the teen driver was drinking that night. Officers didn’t have enough probable cause to do a blood alcohol test on him at the scene, according to Jackson. Since then, the driver has refused to talk with them.
“Believe me, my investigators are extremely frustrated at what everybody perceives to be a very slow process,” Jackson said. “It really hasn’t been that slow. I know for the family it’s probably agonizingly slow.”
Police said they just received some final evidence and plan to hand the case over to the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office next week.
“I don’t want to send a case up that would be in jeopardy of losing a case because we missed something. So I want to make sure it’s complete. I appreciate their patience,” Jackson said.
As Eric’s family waits for justice, his mom said there’s a message she wants the public to take away from her son’s death.
“We’re not promised a tomorrow. Please make sure your children buckle up. Teach them that at a young age,” Velasquez said. “Please, buckle up. Please, buckle up.”
It is KRDO NewsChannel 13’s policy not to name the juvenile driver involved in the crash until, and if, he is charged.
