PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A preliminary hearing was held for the truck driver accused of causing a fatal Washington County accident over the weekend.

Yevgeniy Bugreyev, a Russian man from California, is charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle.

Police say a mother and daughter, 57-year-old Karen Babka and her daughter, 21-year-old Kaitlin Babka of Maryland, were killed by Bugreyev when his tractor trailer crossed over the median, smashing their car on Route 70.

A third car was also involved in the accident and two other motorists were transported via ambulance and helicopter to nearby hospitals.

On his way into court this morning, Bugreyev said he lost concentration saying, “just my brain shut off … something happened in my head.”

“Obviously this is a very serious matter and we are going to continue our investigation into it,” Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said after the hearing.

Vittone said there was testimony from a police trooper that Bugreyev may have fallen asleep at the wheel, but it is still being investigated.

Police have only said that Bugreyev lost control of the vehicle, but have not provided an explanation.

Bugreyev is being held on $1 million bond because officials say he is a potential flight risk.

RELATED LINKS
2 Dead After Rt. 70 Accident, Driver Charged (11/24/2012)
More Local News
More Police News