Police Officers Charged After Woman Was Struck By Train While Handcuffed In Patrol Vehicle

Two Colorado officers have been charged almost two months since a 20-year-old was injured after being hit by a train while handcuffed in the back of a police car.

Jordan Steinke, from the Lupton Police Department has been charged with one count of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter, second degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

Pablo Vazquez, from the Platteville Police Department, has been charged with five misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, one count of obstructing highway or other passageway, careless driving, and parking where prohibited.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation stated that the officers were answering to a road rage incident that involved a gun on September 16.

A Platteville Police officer pulled Yareni Rios-Gonzalez over just past the railroad tracks and stationed the patrol car on the crossing.

When two Fort Lupton officers arrived to the location, Rios-Gonzalez was detained on suspicion of felony menacing. She was put in the back of the Platteville officer’s patrol car that a train struck as officers were looking through her vehicle.

Rios Gonzalez’s lawyer says that she was seriously hurt, losing teeth, suffering a broken arm and ribs, and experienced wounds to her head and legs.

She was charged with one count of felony menacing.

It had been reported previously that the Platteville police officer had been put on paid administrative leave as an investigation was being conducted. It is unclear what other consequences that the Fort Lupton officer faced.

Neither the officers nor Rios-Gonzalez were apprehended, but they were issued summonses.

No court date has been set as of yet.