Former Colorado Police Officer Sentenced to Probation After Train Crash Incident
In a shocking incident that occurred in 2022, a former police officer from Fort Lupton, Colorado, has been sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation for her involvement in a train crash that left a woman with severe injuries. Jordan Steinke, aged 29, found herself in hot water when she placed a handcuffed woman, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, inside a police vehicle, which was subsequently struck by a freight train.
Weld County District Court Judge Timothy Kerns handed down the sentence after Steinke was found guilty of reckless endangerment and assault in connection with the incident that took place on September 16, 2022, near Platteville. Notably, she was acquitted of a criminal attempt to commit manslaughter charge following a bench trial in July.
Judge Kerns initially contemplated a jail sentence but decided on probation after both the prosecution and defense advocated for probationary measures. He emphasized that this decision was based on the specifics of the case and not indicative of a pattern of officers escaping accountability.
As part of her probation, Steinke has been ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and was issued a stern warning by Judge Kerns. If she breaches the probation terms, her original jail sentence might be reconsidered.
During the sentencing hearing, an emotional Steinke offered her apologies to Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, who attended the hearing virtually. She expressed deep regret over the events of that fateful night, which had haunted her for nearly a year, recalling Rios-Gonzalez’s cries and screams.
Steinke also expressed her intention to contribute to her community service by delivering educational talks to new police officers regarding the dangers of railroad tracks and the importance of situational awareness for law enforcement personnel.
The incident unfolded when then-Plateville Police Sgt. Pablo Vazquez had detained Rios-Gonzalez following a reported road rage incident involving a firearm. Steinke took her into custody and locked her inside Vazquez’s police vehicle, which was unfortunately parked on the railroad tracks, leading to the devastating train collision.
Rios-Gonzalez, who sustained a traumatic brain injury and continues to endure pain, had mixed feelings about how Steinke should be penalized, according to attorney Chris Ponce. The ongoing pain and life-altering medical appointments have left her conflicted between anger and empathy for Steinke’s lost career.
Steinke faced dismissal from the Fort Lupton police department following her conviction, and she is expected to lose her Peace Officer Standards and Training certification, effectively ending her career as a police officer.
During Steinke’s trial, her defense team argued that she was unaware of Vazquez’s decision to park the police vehicle on the tracks.
Meanwhile, Vazquez still awaits trial for his role in the crash, facing charges of reckless endangerment and traffic-related violations. Additionally, Rios-Gonzalez has initiated a lawsuit against the involved police agencies.