A woman was hospitalized in 2022 after being handcuffed in a police SUV that was hit by a train. She and the government of Colorado have now made a settlement of $8.5 million.
The settlement was reached between Fort Lupton and Platteville in Colorado, according to a press statement from the Fort Lupton Police Department. Lawyer Eric M. Ziporin, who works for the city, says that the payout amount will be split evenly between the town and the city and paid for by their insurance companies.
Rios was a suspect in a case of road rage. He lived through the accident in September 2022, but he broke nine ribs, an arm, and other bones.
“Both sides are happy with this voluntary settlement, which recognizes how serious this situation is and lets everyone move on,” the Fort Lupton police department said.
Rios was put in the car by Fort Lupton police officer Jordan Steinke. Steinke was found guilty of reckless harm and third-degree assault in the crash last year and was given 30 months of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service.
On the day of the accident, Steinke joined a traffic stop where Rios had already been stopped. Rios was accused of pointing a gun at another driver earlier that evening, according to the police. Police officer Pablo Vasquez of Platteville had stopped his car in the middle of a railroad crossing, and Steinke put Rios in it.
Police released videos from Rios’s body camera and dash cam that showed him yelling for help as the train came up behind the car and hit it.
Steinke said in court that she didn’t see the train tracks despite several warning signs, one of which was right next to where she parked her car.
The police officer said she wasn’t fully aware of what was going on around her because she was afraid to approach a suspect who might have a gun. Steinke said in court, “You can only split your attention so much.”
CNN has asked the Town of Platteville and Rios’s lawyer for their thoughts on the deal.
It takes about 30 miles to get to Fort Lupton from Denver.
