A truck driver involved in a fatal black ice crash has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after he “admitted he closed his eyes and did nothing” during the accident. 

Truck driver Borys Bakhtiarov was sentenced to 90 days in jail, one year probation, and $1,220 in fines and fees on Tuesday, July 8th in Carbon County, Wyoming for a crash that happened on March 15th. He was charged with one count of homicide by vehicle. 

According to Cowboy State Daily, Bakhtiarov was travelling at 55 mph in an 80 mph zone when he lost control on black ice. Bakhtiarov’s truck then slid into another tractor trailer, injuring truck driver James Byars and killing 70-year-old Mary Couch, who was resting in the sleeper. 

During his interview with police, which required an interpreter, Bakhtiarov reportedly “admitted he closed his eyes and did nothing” to officers. “Not even braking as the vehicle jackknifed and spun.”

“At some point — in those few seconds — he realized he was not able to regain control of the vehicle,” said his attorney, Rendy Lemke. “He believes that’s probably the split second he knew he had no more control over this accident, and that is possibly when he closed his eyes, though he cannot tell you for sure.”

Bakhtiarov came to the US in 2023 under a ‘United for Ukraine” visa offering temporary refuge for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The program allows people to stay for up to two years. 

The judge informed Bakhtiarov that, despite the one year probation following his 90 days in jail, he may return to Ukraine following his release in October if he wishes. 

The judge acknowledged that the sentence “pales in comparison to what the family is going to have to endure going forward, due to the criminal activity you’ve come forward and taken responsibility for here before the court today.”

“I understand I will have to live with this for the rest of my life,” Bakhtiarov told the court through an interpreter. “I deeply regret about what happened, and I wish (the victim’s families) were here because I would do anything absolutely anything to help them, to help alleviate their pain in some way.”