Sacramento father of 7 dies, hit by car along I-80 while delivering fruit in Utah, officials say
.jpg "A Sacramento County man was struck and killed by a Hyundai Elantra, which then overturned, on the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 80 in Tooele County, Utah, on Saturday. A 43-year-old driver was reportedly arrested.")
A Sacramento father of seven children, whose wife is pregnant with their eighth, was killed over the weekend after he was struck by a vehicle in Utah while working to provide for his family, according to authorities and an online fundraising page.
Maksim “Max” Vechirko was standing next to his Mercedes Sprinter van hitched to a trailer Saturday morning on eastbound Interstate 80, near milepost 55 in Tooele County, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. A Hyundai Elantra hit the trailer and then struck Vechirko, which killed him, Utah officials said in a news release.
Vechirko was inspecting the tires when he was hit, the Gephardt Daily news service reported.
A 43-year-old man was arrested in the incident, according to the Gephardt Daily. The driver was booked into jail Saturday on suspicion of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, driving under the influence, having marijuana, using or possessing drug paraphernalia, unlawfully selling alcohol from out of state, drinking alcohol in a vehicle and failing to stay in one lane, Tooele County jail records show.
Vechirko was delivering fruit as a way to provide for his family, according to a verified GoFundMe page established by community members. His pregnant wife, who was a homemaker, is now the sole provider for their family, the GoFundMe said. Their children range from 2 years old to 14 years old.
“However, the sudden loss of Maksim Vechirko has left this family emotionally shattered and facing daunting financial challenges.” the GoFundMe said. “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.”
There were no other injuries in the crash, the news release said.
The GoFundMe campaign for the Vechirko family had raised more than $100,000 as of Monday afternoon toward a goal of $150,000.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 5:39 PM.