Man convicted in drunk-driving crash that killed woman and Commerce City Police officer

BRIGHTON, Colo. — An Adams County jury on Thursday convicted a man charged with causing a crash that killed a woman and a Commerce City Police detective. 

The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a release Thursday said Fructuoso Rosales-Cano, 49, was convicted of vehicular homicide – DUI after a three-day trial in Adams County District Court. 

According to the facts in the case, on Oct. 16, 2020, Rosales-Cano was driving his Ford F-350 westbound on Highway 2 near Turnberry Parkway in Commerce City as Detective Curt Holland was driving eastbound in his Ford Explorer while on duty. Francesca Dominguez was behind Detective Holland in her Kia Soul. 

Rosales-Cano was speeding and passing slower cars, the release said, and he overcorrected to avoid sideswiping the barrier wall on the right side of the highway. He swerved into oncoming traffic as a result and collided with Holland’s driver’s side door. Rosales-Cano’s truck then rotated, tipped and crushed Dominguez’s car. 

Construction materials from Rosales-Cano’s truck ripped off the roof of Dominguez’s car, according to the release, and she and Holland died instantly from what the medical examiner described as “devastating injuries.” Rosales-Cano suffered life-threatening injuries but survived. 

The release said officers found “a number” of empty beer cans and small liquor bottles in Rosales-Cano’s truck, which smelled strongly of alcohol. His blood-alcohol content was .294, which is more than three times the legal limit. He was previously convicted of DUI in 1997 and 2006, according to the release.

On Thursday, an Adams County jury convicted Rosales-Cano of two counts of vehicular homicide – DUI and two counts of driving under the influence with 2 or more prior convictions.

“The damage caused by this defendant is truly unfathomable,” said District Attorney Brian Mason in the release. “Because of one man’s indefensible decision to drink and drive, two innocent victims are dead and countless lives are shattered. Francesca Dominguez did not deserve to be taken from her loved ones. Detective Curt Holland should still be alive today serving the community he loved with his wife and two children by his side. Although the jury’s decision cannot bring them back, I am nevertheless grateful to law enforcement, my team at the District Attorney’s Office, and the families of the victims for seeing this case through and securing this just verdict.” 

“This day has been a long time coming,” Commerce City Police Chief Darrel Guadnola said in a statement from the department. “While this verdict cannot undo the past and bring back two individuals who were taken out of this world too soon, I hope it gives their loved ones and friends the closure that has been so evasive over the last four years. I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to the 17th Judicial District’s District Attorney’s Office for their relentless prosecution of the responsible party, the Colorado State Patrol for their investigation of the incident, and everyone else whose efforts led to today’s positive outcome.”

Sentencing is set for Jan. 9.