LITTLETON, COLORADO — The driver of a CDS Transport semi-truck that crashed into a QuikTrip gas station on West Belleview Avenue in March, crushing a passenger vehicle beyond recognition against a brick wall and causing a partial building collapse, now faces a careless driving charge after investigators determined the truck had no mechanical issues — contradicting the driver’s claim that the brakes failed.
The crash occurred at 1:33 p.m. on March 10, 2026, at 2338 W. Belleview Avenue. South Metro Fire Rescue, West Metro Fire Rescue, and Littleton Police responded to find a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle had struck the building, causing a partial wall collapse. The semi’s cab had pushed the passenger vehicle sideways, compressing it entirely against the brick wall. The vehicle’s roof, front end, and body were crushed beyond recognition. Littleton Police officers and bystanders extricated the single occupant and moved them to safety before firefighters arrived. The occupant went to a hospital by emergency transport. Five employees and approximately 25 customers evacuated safely. No injuries were reported among those inside.
Photo credit: South Metro Fire Rescue
Technical rescue teams from South Metro and West Metro Fire Rescue stabilized the building. Both vehicles were removed by approximately 4:45 p.m. The structure was turned over to property owners and closed indefinitely. Connolly’s Towing assisted at the scene.
Littleton Police identified the driver as Daniel Torrez, 33. Police charged him with careless driving causing bodily injury. Torrez told investigators at the scene he believed the brakes had failed. A subsequent investigation found no mechanical issues with the truck. Torrez declined medical treatment at the scene. A West Metro Fire spokesperson said the outcome could have been far worse depending on the direction the truck had been traveling.
Photo credit: South Metro Fire Rescue
A Driver With a Troubled History
Just days before the crash, Torrez received a summons for driving a commercial vehicle with a suspended license. His record also includes ties to a separate trucking accident in January 2017 involving American Demolition, a company run by the same family that operates CDS Transport.
The Company Behind the Truck
CDS Transport’s federal motor carrier safety registration was last updated in 2022, according to USDOT records. Colorado State Patrol inspection records show CDS Transport trucks have racked up numerous violations since 2023, including drivers without valid CDLs, missing or defective brake warning devices, and damaged or defective brakes.
In a statement, a CDS Transport representative said: “Safety is a core priority, and the company is committed to maintaining effective safety practices.”
Records also show that American Demolition had a truck inspected in December 2025 that was pulled out of service for a missing or inoperable breakaway braking system. That driver had no valid CDL and could not meet English language proficiency requirements.
Photo credit: South Metro Fire Rescue
A Victim Speaks Out
The March crash brought back painful memories for Noah Williams, who was paralyzed in the 2017 American Demolition crash. Williams saw images of the gas station crash online and immediately recognized the truck. “Just knew right away. Just looked at the truck,” he said.
In January 2017, a semi owned and operated by American Demolition with defective brakes slammed into the back of Williams’ truck. “The truck came barreling down on us, pushed the bed of the truck into the cab,” Williams recalled. He checked on his sister, who said she was OK. “She looked at me. I remember looking down, and I tried to move my legs and couldn’t do it.” Williams was paralyzed. Today he relies on a wheelchair and his service dog, Buddy. “It was so bad my back broke into fragments, and I’m missing 6 inches of my spinal cord in my back,” he said.
2017 Crash survivor Noah Williams. Courtesy: CBS
Williams sued American Demolition and uncovered years of safety issues. Colorado State Patrol inspection records showed 19 notices in the years before the crash — most related to brake problems. A post-crash inspection found the truck was overloaded and four of its ten brakes were defective.
2017 crash semi-truck
His attorney, Stephen Burg of Burg Simpson Law, said the deeper they dug, the more problems they found. “When we were digging into this case, we sort of discovered there were numerous companies all with similar ownership,” Burg said. The owner of American Demolition confirmed that CDS Transport is run by the same family.
Williams settled his lawsuit before trial. He had never spoken publicly about the experience until now. “I have always wanted to do what I could to make sure this didn’t happen to someone, but I was limited, and unfortunately it happened again,” Williams said.
Victim and attorney interviews courtesy of CBS Colorado.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
