A former trucking company owner has been sentenced following a tragic accident in 2019 that claimed the lives of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire.

The sentence: Dunyadar Gasanov, 39, will spend two months in prison and undergo a year of supervised release. During this time, he's prohibited from commercial driving.

• Gasanov pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal authorities, covering up details related to the crash.
• Authorities highlighted that he directed employees to falsify driving logs, enabling violations of federal Hours of Service regulations.

The background: The crash happened on June 21, 2019, involving driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, on his first day with Westfield Transport. Zhukovskyy, who had a record of driving under the influence, was hired despite his history, reported the U.S. Department of Justice.

The investigation: It revealed that from May 3 to June 23, 2019, Gasanov falsified logs and instructed others to do the same to bypass safety regulations.

• Officials say he falsely claimed to have met Zhukovskyy only on the day of the hire, though they had known each other for years.
• Gasanov's brother, Dartanyan Gasanov, also faces charges and is awaiting trial.

In the aftermath, justice officials reinforced the seriousness of adhering to federal safety measures on the road. Dartanyan Gasanov's trial date remains pending.