BROOKLYN (VINnews) – A Coney Island man who was driving without a license is under arrest in connection with the horrific accident just outside Boro Park that killed two and injured five.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
49 year old Vitaliy Konoplyov was charged with two counts each of manslaughter and aggravated unlicensed operator. Police said that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he plowed through a red light at the intersection of 18th Avenue and 64th Street at approximately 12:45 PM on March 20th.
As previously reported on VIN News, the Toyota Camry driven by Konoplyov was speeding when it ran a red light and struck multiple vehicles, one of which jumped the curb and struck a 61 year old pedestrian.
The pedestrian and the 51 year old driver of the first car hit by Konoplyov, a Honda CRV, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Konoplyov was one of five people taken to area hospitals, with a 49 year old passenger of the Honda currently listed in critical condition. The victims’ names have not been released at this time.
Twisted pieces of the mangled vehicles flew through the air, crashing down on cars parked on the street.
Vito Conigliaro told the NY Daily News, that he saw the Camry flying down the street and heard a massive explosion when it slammed into the Honda. Conigliaro, who works in a nearby pizzeria, said that the impact sent a rear seat passenger in the Camry flying into the front seat.
“His head went through the windshield,” said Conigliaro. “It was sticking out of the windshield.”
18th Avenue had been designated as a priority area for the city’s Vision Zero program, but was removed from the list last month.
10 years then deport him
On 19 March in Scarsdale, an unlicensed driver killed five people.