The truck driver involved in a deadly crash last summer is now facing his 17th deportation after being released from jail. 

47-year-old Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza served one year in jail for a June 2024 crash on Highway 285 outside of Conifer, Colorado that left one person dead. Cruz-Mendoza was hauling metal pipes at the time of the crash. He served one year in jail for four misdemeanor charges: one count of careless driving resulting in death, and three counts of careless driving resulting in injury. 

Cruz-Mendoza was released at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30th, where he was immediately detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Denver 7 reports that he was in the country illegally at the time of the crash, and had been removed from the country 12 times prior to the wreck. He has also voluntarily left the United States and returned to Mexico four times, all since 2002. 

“If we weren’t here, this person would have been released back to the community of Denver,” said ICE field director Robert Guadian.

Cruz-Mendoza was taken to the ICE Denver Contract Detention Facility where he will await his 17th deportation.