PITTSBURGH — A man pleaded guilty to manslaughter for failing to properly hitch a woodchipper to his truck, causing the trailer to break loose and smash into a minivan, killing a father and two of his three triplets, the Associated Press is reporting.

Bradley Demitras, 35, of Pine Township, was scheduled to stand trial Monday, but instead entered the guilty plea to three counts of involuntary manslaughter and a count of reckless endangerment in the April 13 crash that killed Spencer Morrison, 37, of Cranberry and 4-year-olds Alaina and Garrett, authorities said.

A third triplet, Ethan, was critically injured, but survived.

Prosecutors said Demitras didn't properly hook up the woodchipper to his truck's hitch, causing it to break loose along Route 8 in Richland Township.

Allegheny County Judge Lester Nauhaus indicated Demitras faces a maximum possible prison term of 17 years and three months. Demitras also pleaded guilty to several lesser traffic violations.

Sentencing is set for May 27.