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The Latest: Truck driver's lawyer calls bike crash a tragedy

Posted June 24, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of West Springfield, stands during his arraignment in Hampton District Court, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Springfield, Mass. Zhukovskyy, the driver of a truck in a fiery collision on a rural New Hampshire highway that killed seven motorcyclists, was charged Monday with seven counts of negligent homicide. (Don Treeger/The Republican via AP, Pool) The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Latest on a deadly collision between a truck and motorcycles in rural New Hampshire (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

A lawyer for the driver of a truck in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists is not commenting on records that show his client was arrested on drunken driving charges last month and in 2013.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is being returned to New Hampshire to face seven counts of negligent homicide after a brief court appearance Monday in Massachusetts. The 23-year-old was arrested Monday at his home in West Springfield.

Defense attorney Donald Frank called Friday's crash a "tragedy" but said it's important to let the criminal justice system play out.

Connecticut prosecutors say Zhukovskyy was arrested last month in an East Windsor Walmart parking lot after failing a sobriety test. Officers had responded to a complaint about a man who was revving his truck engine and jumping up and down outside the vehicle.

3:10 p.m.

The driver of a truck in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists is being returned to New Hampshire to face charges of negligent homicide.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was handed over to New Hampshire authorities after a brief court appearance Monday in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The 23-year-old looked down at his feet as he was led into the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Zhukovskyy was arrested at his home in West Springfield on a fugitive from justice charge related to Friday's crash.

Officials say Zhukovskyy's pickup truck, towing a flatbed trailer, collided with motorcycles Friday on a two-lane highway in the northern New Hampshire community of Randolph.

Records show that Zhukovskyy was arrested on drunken driving charges last month and in 2013.

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2:30 p.m.

The driver of a truck in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire was arrested on drunken driving charges last month and in 2013.

Connecticut court records show Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was stopped by police in East Windsor, Connecticut, on May 11. Details of the arrest were not immediately available. A message seeking comment was left for his lawyer in that case.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles records show Zhukovskyy was arrested for drunken driving in 2013 in Westfield, Massachusetts.

The Westfield News reported he was placed on probation for one year and had his license suspended for 210 days.

Zhukovskyy was arrested Monday at his home in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He faces seven counts of negligent homicide in connection with Friday's crash in New Hampshire. It's not clear if he has a lawyer in that case.

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1:40 p.m.

Records show the driver of a truck in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire was arrested on a drunken driving charge in 2013.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles records show that Volodymyr Zhukovskyy had his license suspended shortly after that arrest in Westfield, Massachusetts, because he was deemed an "immediate threat."

The Westfield News reported in 2014 that Zhukovskyy was placed on probation for one year and had his license suspended for 210 days in that case.

Zhukovskyy was arrested Monday at his home in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on a fugitive from justice charge related to Friday's crash. He is charged in New Hampshire with seven counts of negligent homicide.

He was expected to make a court appearance Monday in Springfield. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

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12:55 p.m.

The driver of a truck in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists has been charged with seven counts of negligent homicide.

The New Hampshire attorney general's office says 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy was arrested Monday morning at his home in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

He is expected to make a court appearance Monday afternoon in Springfield.

A man who answered the phone at the home of Zhukovskyy's family and would identify himself only as his brother-in-law says the family is in shock and feeling the same pain as everyone else but couldn't say whether the driver was right or wrong.

Investigators say Zhukovskyy's pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer collided with a group of 10 motorcycles Friday on a two-lane highway in northern New Hampshire.

This photo provided by Miranda Thompson shows the scene where several motorcycles and a pickup truck collided on a rural, two-lane highway Friday, June 21, 2019 in Randolph, N.H. New Hampshire State Police said a 2016 Dodge 2500 pickup truck collided with the riders on U.S. 2 Friday evening. The cause of the deadly collision is not yet known. The pickup truck was on fire when emergency crews arrived. (Miranda Thompson via AP) The Associated Press

Motorcyclists participate in a "Blessing of the Bikes" ceremony in Columbia, N.H., Sunday, June 23, 2019. While such ceremonies are periodically held, the Sunday event held special meaning for the motorcycle community. Bikers and veterans are reeling from a crash, in which a pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer collided with a group of 10 motorcycles Friday evening. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke) The Associated Press

New Hampshire State Police Col. Chris Wagner addresses the media during a news conference, Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Coos County Courthouse in Lancaster, N.H. Investigators pleaded Saturday for members of the public to come forward with information that could help them determine why a pickup truck hauling a trailer collided with a group of motorcycles on a rural highway. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP) The Associated Press

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of West Springfield, stands with his attorney Donald Frank during his arraignment in Hampton District Court, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Springfield, Mass. Zhukovskyy, the driver of a truck in a fiery collision on a rural New Hampshire highway that killed seven motorcyclists, was charged Monday with seven counts of negligent homicide. (Don Treeger/The Republican via AP, Pool) The Associated Press

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