Florida Man Charged in Deadly Crash That Killed Members of ‘Meet the Putmans’ Family in Tuscola County

Authorities say the crash at a rural Tuscola County intersection killed multiple members of the well-known Michigan family featured on the TLC reality series Meet the Putmans and left others seriously

ELLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Florida man has been charged in connection with a crash that killed multiple members of the Putman family, known from the TLC reality show Meet the Putmans, according to the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors say Pavel B. Shchukin, 55, a lawful permanent U.S. resident from Jacksonville, Florida, has been charged with eight misdemeanor counts following a fatal collision on September 26, 2025, at the intersection of Deckerville Road and Hurds Corner Road in Ellington Township.

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The crash claimed the lives of several members of the Putman family, whose story gained national attention through their reality series that chronicled their large family living together in Michigan. Others were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Shchukin faces the following charges:

• Counts 1–3: Moving Violation Causing Death (1-year maximum each)

• Counts 4–8: Moving Violation Causing Serious Impairment of a Body Function (93-day maximum each)

All victims in the crash were members of the same family. Medical teams across several hospitals are continuing to treat survivors.

Shchukin was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Tuscola County District Court.

Officials Urge Caution on Michigan Roads

The Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

Authorities urged drivers to reflect on recent road tragedies in the region. According to prosecutors, nine people have died in Tuscola County in the past seven weeks in traffic crashes — all of which were “clearly preventable.”

“The consequences suffered by the families, friends and our communities are incalculable and irreversible,” the statement said.