Published on March 12, 2020
GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Commerce City man was booked into the Weld County Jail Thursday morning after a judge sentenced him for causing a deadly crash in 2018. A jury convicted Victor Cervantes, 24, Wednesday of Careless Driving Resulting in Death. On October 21, 2018, Cervantes was driving a semitrailer hauling asphalt on Weld County Road 35 when he pulled out into on-coming traffic to turn left onto Colorado 392. Donald White, who was also driving a semi, was traveling east on Colorado 392 and crashed into Cervantes. White was transferred to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. “He was a very good man,” Donald’s son, Daniel White, said during Thursday’s sentencing hearing. “He did everything by the book. My dad won’t be there when I get married. He won’t be there when I have children on my own. He won’t be there for my mom ever again. My life is changed forever.” “I had the privilege of being married to that man for 23 years,” Donald’s wife, Joyce said. “It wasn’t a truck you hit. It was a life you took. My best friend was taken in the matter of seconds that I will never be able to get back.” A judge sentenced Cervantes Thursday to 60 days in the Weld County jail, 140 days of work-release and three years of supervised probation. As part of the sentence, the defendant must also complete 150 hours of community service and attend a safe driving class. The judge also ordered that he take a class about making better choices, and also ordered him to personally write apology letters to the victim’s wife and son. “As a semi driver, it was his job to drive safely and he failed,” Deputy District Attorney Trevor Pellerite said. “And as a result, he killed somebody. After serving his time, Victor will be able to go home and eat dinner with his wife again. He’ll be able to watch his kids play at their soccer games again. He will return home and his life will go on, but Donald White’s life will not.” Cervantes was remanded immediately following the sentencing hearing. Deputy District Attorney Trevor Pellerite prosecuted this case.