Trucker in Fatal Crash With Twin Cities Family Faces 5 Felony Counts of Vehicular Homicide

Authorities say the truck driver accused of causing a Sunday Interstate crash in Nebraska that killed six people, including an entire St. Paul family, was "inattentive and distracted by outside influences."

Tony Weekly Jr., 53, of Baker, Florida, was charged Tuesday with five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide, according to Kearney Hub. The counts include one for each family member who died in their minivan after it burst into flames upon collision with Weekly's semitrailer. He also faces a single misdemeanor count of reckless driving.

Jamison Pals and his wife Kathryne, both 29, along with their three children, Ezra, 3; Violet, almost 2; and Calvin, 2 months; were all killed on the truck's initial impact, authorities said. A sixth victim, 56-year-old Denver resident Terry Sullivan, was declared legally dead Monday. Kearney Hub reported that he remained on life support Tuesday.

• Read: Minnesota Parents, 3 Babies Die in Fiery Crash on Interstate 80

Police say Weekly failed to slow the semitrailer down until he hit the Pals — the first of four vehicles involved in the crash. It occurred in a 65 mph construction zone near Brule, Nebraska, where Weekly was westbound on Interstate 80.

"Fred Zwonechek of the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety said the Sunday crash was the worst in Nebraska since at least Nov. 6, 2006, when five people died in a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Interstate 80 just west of Shelton, between Grand Island and Kearney," the Kearney Hub article said.

Weekly's bail has been set at $1 million. When the judge asked him if he had any assets, he reportedly replied, "Sir, I am a month away from losing my house and my car."

A preliminary hearing date is set for Aug. 29.

Loved ones mourning the Pals family say a foundation will be established to continue the mission work that Jamison and Kathryne planned their lives around. Meanwhile, those wanting to contribute can donate to www.gofundme.com/joyofjapan. The page's set goal of $25,000 had already been surpassed on Wednesday.

Read the full Kearney Hub story for additional details about Weekly and the criminal case.