A California dad whose wife is pregnant with their eighth child was fatally struck by a car driven by an allegedly impaired driver along a Utah highway, according to officials.
Maksym Vechirko, 35, of Sacramento, had been standing outside his Mercedes Sprinter van, which was pulling a trailer, on the right shoulder of eastbound I-80 in Aragonite, Utah, when he was hit about 9 a.m. Saturday, police said.
A Hyundai Elantra slammed into the trailer and then hit Vechirko as he was checking his tires, according to cops.
The dad of seven — who was traveling with his own dad at the time — suffered fatal injuries, cops said.
The driver of the Elantra was later identified as 43-year-old Shelby Kenneth Secrist, KJZZ reported.
“While speaking with Shelby, I noticed that his speech and demeanor were sluggish,” a police officer said in court documents cited by KUTV. “His eyes were bloodshot and glassy-looking. His pupils were tightly constricted.”
Police said they found marijuana on Secrist and performed a sobriety test that led them to determine he was impaired, according to the outlet.
The officers also discovered additional drugs and eight bottles of alcohol in his car.
“Seven of the large bottles of alcohol were sealed, while the eighth bottle was unsealed and missing some of its contents,” a probable cause statement states, KUTV reported.
Secrist was charged with felony automobile homicide, driving under the influence, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, unlawful possession of liquor, and failure to stay in one lane.
Vechirko, who was inspecting his tires, was traveling with his father, who was inside the van at the time of the accident, the Gephardt Daily reported.
Vechirko “was on a route delivering fruits as a means to provide for his family,” his loved ones said in an online fundraiser.
“He was an extraordinary person who loved his family and brought joy to many people around him and those who he met,” it stated.
“Maksim leaves behind his beloved wife, Tanya, and their seven incredible children, and another one on the way,” it says.
His children were identified as David, 14 years, Tanya, 12, Vera, 10, Dima 9, Maksim, 6, Mark, 4, and 2-year-old Samuel.
“The sudden loss of Maksim Vechirko has left this family emotionally shattered and facing daunting financial challenges. Their hearts ache with the pain of his absence, and they are confronted with the overwhelming responsibility of providing for the little kids down to the basic necessities,” it adds.
The GoFundMe drive has raised over $121,000 as of Wednesday morning.