Buslayev set to appear in court at end of month
New Jersey truck driver Sergey Buslayev appeared in court last Wednesday, facing charges of negligent homicide for the death of volunteer firefighter Jerry Parrick in 2008.
Buslayev, 56, of Emerson, N.J., was arrested last month on felony warrants for negligent homicide and criminal endangerment in connection with the crash. He was taken into custody by officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and arrived in Mineral County after he waived extradition according to Mineral County Attorney Shaun Donovan.
At his initial appearance on Wednesday, the Russian-born Buslayev told Judge John Larson that he didn't understand much English. Donovan said that they didn't have time to arrange for an interpreter for the initial appearance last Wednesday and so the defense asked the manner to be continued. Judge Larson agreed and the hearing was pushed back until August 25.
The charging documents filed by Donovan account that the accident which resulted in Parrick's death happened back on December 17. Officers from the Mineral County Sheriff's Department and Montana Highway Patrol were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a commercial motor vehicle, which Buslayev was driving, and a pickup truck that was parked on the north shoulder of Interstate 90 near mile marker 17.8, between Haugen and DeBorgia. At the time, Parrick was assigned to warn westbound traffic of a traffic collision up ahead. His vehicle was equipped with a rooftop lighting system with amber and red flashing lights as well as flashing lights in the tail light assembly, all of which were visible from a half mile away.
He document state that unlike other vehicles that were driving at speeds between 35 and 55 miles per hour, Buslayev was traveling between 63 and 72 miles per hour. At a speed of 69 miles per hour, Parrick's truck would have been visible to Buslayev for about 25 seconds before impact. Buslayev did not remove his foot from the gas pedal.
Charging documents also list serious mechanical flaws and or operator errors that occurred on December 17. One point the documents make it that the truck-tractor had its differential interlock in the "off" position and it should have been "on" to provide better traction. Tires on the steering wheel axel were also badly worn and in need of replacement.
In addition, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Buslayev was convicted of reckless driving in a commercial vehicle back in 2006, if failure to yield to an emergency vehicle in 2003 and failure to observe a traffic control device and failure to make repairs in 2002.