PITTSBURGH -- Last year, a Cranberry man and two of his three triplets were killed when a wood-chipper broke free from a truck and slammed into their minivan on Route 8 in Richland Township.

---

Watch the ReportCrash

---

The driver of the truck, Bradley Demitras, 35, of Pine Township, was sentenced Tuesday to nine to 18 months in prison and six years of probation on involuntary manslaughter and other charges.

"All I can say is I am sorry," Demitras said during sentencing. "I know that sounds like the hollowest thing in the world, but I am sorry."

Prosecutors said the chipper came free from Demitras' truck and went into the opposing lanes, killing Spencer Morrison and his 4-year-olds, Alaina and Garrett, on April 13, 2006.

Demitras pleaded guilty in March and acknowledged that the chipper wasn't properly hooked up to his truck before he left work.

Demitras also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment for critically injuring the third triplet, Ethan, who survived.

Widow Nichole Morrison told the judge that her pain is immeasurable. She described having to explain to her 5-year-old who asks often, "When are they coming home, mommy?"

She asked that Demitras be sentenced to the maximum consecutive sentence allowed by law.

"I don't think you need to be punished to the maximum period," Allegheny County Judge Lester Nauhaus said. "I just think you need to be punished."

"You see about this accident and you say, 'What kind of moron would do this?'" said defense attorney Pat Thomassey. "And then the person walks into my office, and I just didn't find him to be a monster. I found him to be just a regular working guy who gets up every day and goes to work."

During his probation period, Demitras must talk to trucking companies about the laws of the road.

---

Related Links:
More County News

RSS Headlines | Breaking News Alerts

---