ROCHESTER, Ind. (AP) – The father of a 9-year-old Indiana girl who was struck and killed by a pickup truck as she crossed a road to board a school bus is asking for people to stop threatening the motorist’s family.

Michael Stahl is the father of Alivia Stahl, who was killed Oct. 30 near Rochester, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Indianapolis. Her 6-year-old twin brothers, Xzavier and Mason Ingle, also died and an 11-year-old boy was seriously injured.

Stahl attended Thursday’s initial hearing for 24-year-old Alyssa Shepherd, who entered a not-guilty plea to three counts of reckless homicide.

Stahl said after the hearing that he’s praying for Shepherd’s family, and asked people to stop making threats against them.

He says the threats don’t “do my daughter justice” or help others affected by the tragedy.