Colorado officers charged after leaving woman handcuffed in patrol car hit by train

On Monday, two police officers in Colorado were charged after leaving a handcuffed woman in a car which was struck by a train. The woman was left seriously injured after the impact.

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office confirmed in a statement that Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, 20, was charged with felony menacing after a reported road rage incident that occurred on Sept. 16. Rios-Gonzales was arrested after being identified during a traffic stop.

She was accused of pointing a gun at another driver close to the town of Platteville, which is approximately 40 miles north of Denver.

After her arrest Rios-Gonzalez put in handcuffs and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle that was parked on train tracks.

Officers from multiple agencies were on the scene, but none of them moved the car off the tracks. Police video footage showed a Union Pacific freight train drive into the patrol vehicle as it’s horn was sounding.

Rios-Gonzalez’s lawyer Paul Wilkinson said that she has now been released from hospital and is currently recovering at home.

Wilkinson said the decision for the charges against Rios-Gonzalez to stand was “disappointing.” Wilkinson also said that he would file a federal lawsuit against police for the extensive injuries to Rios-Gonzalez and also and for violating her civil rights.

Office Jordan Steinke is facing the most serious charges of attempted manslaughter and second-degree assault, both of which are felonies, prosecutors said.

Sergeant Pablo Vazquez of the Platteville police is facing five counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment and traffic charges, authorities said.