Driver in Fatal Route 28 Crash Caused by Lost Tire Held For Court

District Judge Hugh McGough has ordered the driver of a truck towing a trailer that lost a tire, causing a fatal accident on Route 28, to stand trial.

Eric Gonzalez-Huerta, 23, of Louisville, Kentucky, was driving southbound in a truck towing a trailer when the trailer lost a tire on Route 28, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The tire crossed the roadway into the northbound lane, striking an oncoming vehicle driven by Robert Lofink, 75, of Hampton, Pennsylvania. Lofink was pronounced dead on the scene, the Post-Gazette reports.

Judge McGough ordered Gonzalez-Huerta to stand trial for an accident involving death or serious injury while driving without a valid license, a third-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail, according to the Post-Gazette. Additionally, Gonzalez-Huerta is being charged with accident involving death or serious injury, a second-degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years, the newspaper said.

One felony count of accidents involving death or serious injury against the driver of the truck was dismissed. Gonzalez-Huerta was also charged with a multitude of other violations, including driving without a license, driving without insurance, driving without a valid commercial license and violation of vehicle equipment standards, according to the Post-Gazette.

Gonzalez-Huerta remains in the Allegheny County Jail on $250,000 bond.