Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

Thread: How I approach a news story before commenting on it.

In 2019 Rogel Aguilera-Mederos drove a truck that lost it's brakes, accelerated as it went downhill, then crashed into stationary traffic, killing 4 & injuring others.

https://twitter.com/HoustonChron/status/1472266256740933638

In the public and media frenzy to denounce the 110 year mandatory minimum sentence, a lot of signal is being lost to noise.

Pertinent facts are being omitted or downplayed in media coverage, as far as I've seen at this stage.

Misuse of the term "accident" is part of this.

Aguilera-Mederos & his millions of supporters use the term accident to imply that his actions were not at least partially at fault in this collision. Certainly his employer is partially at fault & must be held accountable. But that doesn't mean the employer is solely responsible.

I'm still trying to find primary documents from the prosecution so I can fact check the details of this case. So if you know where they are, please let me know.

In the meantime I've been able to glean some of the facts in media reports:

apnews.com/article/colora…

I think his defense attorney would have been wise to give advice on what happened in the crash and what options he did have. We can all understand that he panicked. But IMO he should have accepted and testified that he failed in his duty of care. That would have helped him.

Maybe he received that kind of advice but chose not to act on it. His cries of "it was an accident" and "I never meant to hurt anyone" show that he lacks understanding of the facts. Potentially, he should not have been employed in the role. That's on the employer.