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Transportation Company Linked to US 285 Crash Ordered to Shut Down

Posted on by angelo
Transportation Company Linked to US 285 Crash Ordered to Shut Down

DENVER (KDVR) — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an order July 3 requiring the company that allegedly employed the tractor-trailer driver accused in a fatal crash on U.S. Highway 285 to immediately cease operations, according to a statement.

Monique Trucking, a California-based company, was deemed “an imminent danger to public safety” following an investigation into the crash that killed 64-year-old Scott Miller.


According to an order, while driving a vehicle belonging to the company on June 11, Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza allegedly hit five vehicles while trying to pass them.

The truck jackknifed on the highway and spilled its cargo, causing the highway to be closed for several hours.

Cruz-Mendoza, 47, was arrested and later charged with one count of reckless driving resulting in death and three counts of reckless driving resulting in injury.

According to the FMCSA, Monique Trucking was found to be “grossly non-compliant” with the regulations and was cited for numerous serious violations.

Specifically, the company allegedly:

  • did not have a controlled substance and alcohol screening program in place,
  • failed to ensure that only commercially licensed drivers were employed, and
  • did not comply with, among other things, vehicle maintenance and inspection standards.

According to the order, during the investigation, the business owner was “unfamiliar with driver qualification requirements and controlled substance testing requirements.”

“When asked about pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, (the owner) stated, ‘I didn’t know I had to take drug tests,'” the order states.

The order states that the company’s “complete and utter disregard” for regulations “significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death” to both truck drivers and the public.

The company received the order on July 2. The company could be fined up to $33,252 for each violation if it fails to comply with the order, in addition to other potential fines.