Family of Sgt Moreno react to report that clears of wrongdoing in fatal wreck

The December 12 wreck on Highway 12, just outside of Valdez, took the lives of 37-year-old Sgt. Matthew Moreno of the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Taelor Roybal, and her one-year-old son, Ezekiel Valdez.

According to Colorado’s 3rd Judicial District and Colorado State Patrol’s findings, Roybal was driving eastbound when she swerved into the westbound lane.

The report says she was driving more than 90-miles-per-hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone, all while hitting Moreno head on. Investigators say she also had large amounts of drugs and alcohol in her system at the time.

For the family of Moreno, the new report doesn’t make this any less horrific, but it does bring some relief.

“It gives you some closure on it,” said Ed Moreno, father of Sgt. Matthew Moreno. “You know for a fact that he died doing his job.”

Ed Moreno says based off the evidence he was confident that his son wasn’t at fault. However, not everyone agrees.

Moreno says his family received harassment via social media and email, blaming Matthew for the fatal wreck.

“I said just let them go on,” said Moreno. “Sooner or later the report is going to be out there, and when it is, it’s going to be a bam!”

Keeping the online blame and negativity from Moreno’s granddaughter’s has been a different struggle.

“At such a young age, to read or hear about that negativity about their dad. It would probably put a callous on them that wouldn’t heal,” said Moreno.

Through the funerals and ceremonies honoring Sgt. Moreno this past month, his father says it’s been difficult to find time to truly reflect and grieve for his son. Now, after the recent report, he searches for forgiveness as well.

“Forgive her? I don’t know yet,” said Moreno. “As to why she did it that would’ve really helped out a little bit but they don’t know how in the heck she was coming around the corner at that time.”

Moreno hopes more time can help answer these lingering questions. The Moreno family tells KRDO they still want to send out their condolences the Valdez and Roybal families.

They say they are sad and a bit angry, however, they hold zero animosity towards the other families in this tragic situation.

Now their goal is to ensure that Sgt. Moreno is remembered as a hero who died doing what he loved.