By Robert J Hansen
GREELEY, Colo. Colorado police officer Jordan Steinke, who put a handcuffed woman in a police car that was hit by a freight train, pleaded not guilty to attempted manslaughter on Thursday,
This coming after the second-degree felony assault, the most serious charge, was dropped by prosecutors last week.
@#FortLuptonPD office who left 21 year old in squad car that was hit by freight train pleads not guilty to manslaughter. pic.twitter.com/0rOs0JL3pP
— Robert J. Hansen (@rjhansen13) March 5, 2023
Steinke is still charged with felony attempted reckless manslaughter and misdemeanor reckless endangerment stemming from the Sept. 16 incident that left Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, 21, seriously injured.
A Colorado police officer stopped Rios’ car just past a set of railroad tracks and parked the patrol vehicle on the tracks.
Steinke, a Fort Lupton police officer, allegedly put Rios in the back of the car belonging to a Platteville police officer, who is charged with five misdemeanor counts 
of reckless endangerment.
The train can be heard as it heads toward the car while police searched Rios-Gonzalez’s vehicle.
The officers can be seen just as they notice the train and clear the area as it smashes into the cruiser, leaving Rios-Gonzalez with serious injuries.
Rios has filed a lawsuit accusing officers of acting recklessly and failing in their duty to take care of her while she was in their custody.
In the lawsuit, Rios alleges the train tracks were “plainly visible” to the officer who put Rios in the back seat of the squad car.
