**Semi-Truck Driver Arrested in Deadly Crash That Killed Three ‘Meet the Putmans’ Family Members**

*Published Oct. 1, 2025, 2:17 p.m. ET*

A semi-truck driver has been arrested and accused of causing a tragic crash that took the lives of three family members from the TLC show *Meet the Putmans*, RadarOnline.com can report. In addition, five other family members were hospitalized, with some in critical condition.

Pavel B. Shchukin, 55, from Jacksonville, Florida, faces eight counts related to the September 26 crash in Tuscola County, Michigan. According to police reports, Shchukin was driving a fully loaded semi-truck when he failed to stop at a stop sign, colliding with a Jeep carrying eight members of the Putnam family.

The family was heading east on Deckerville Road when the southbound semi struck their vehicle. Among the deceased are “Papa” Bill Putman, his wife Neenee, and their daughter-in-law, Aunt Megan, confirmed family member Isabelle in an Instagram post over the weekend.

The injured family members—Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia—were hospitalized following the crash.

### Charges Against Truck Driver

Authorities have labeled the incident an “accident.” Shchukin faces three counts of Moving Violation Causing Death and five counts of Moving Violation Causing Serious Impairment of a Body Function. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of just over four years in prison.

The sentence has sparked reactions online, with many on the County Sheriff’s Facebook page criticizing it as too lenient. One commenter stated, “It wasn’t an accident. It was a crash. It may not have been intentional, but it was negligent. A life has to be worth more than a year. No one deserves what happened to this family.”

Others echoed the sentiment, calling it “a slap on the wrist,” while some attempted to provide perspective, noting that “Everyone in a vehicle holds some kind of accountability for an accident. It doesn’t seem right for such little time for this crime, but again, it is classified an accident.”

### Family Members Still Recovering

*Meet the Putnams* aired for one season on TLC in 2017. The show followed three generations of the family living together in a modest six-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Michigan.

The family shared an update on the injured members, posting on Instagram:

“Noah is still sedated, but we are so grateful to see that he is responding to us with movement.”

“Gia underwent a craniotomy last night, and we are thankful to report that her care team shared some encouraging news: her brain pressure has gone down significantly.”

### Request for Prayers

The family has requested continued prayers as Noah and Gia continue their recovery.

“Through it all, we continue to hold tightly to our faith, knowing that God has a plan and a purpose for everything,” they wrote. “Even in the hardest moments, He is present, working in ways we may not yet understand.”

“Thank you all for the continued prayers, love, and support. We feel your strength and faith surrounding us. Please keep lifting Noah and Gia up as they heal.”
https://radaronline.com/p/tlc-tragedy-semi-truck-driver-charged-crash-killed-family-members-reality-show/