Brooklyn man indicted for killing two after running a red light on 18th Avenue

May 18, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

18th Avenue and 64th Street: The Brooklyn Intersection of a Tragic Accident that Claimed Two Lives and Injured Five. Screenshot courtesy of Google Maps.

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A Brooklyn man stands accused of causing a fatal car crash in Bensonhurst that led to the deaths of two people and injuries to five others, due to his alleged reckless driving.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the indictment Wednesday, which includes charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, criminally negligent homicide, among others.

“This defendant’s alleged extreme recklessness caused the senseless deaths of two innocent people and inflicted serious injuries on others,” Gonzalez said. “New Yorkers deserve safe streets, and I am committed to holding accountable any driver who endangers the public with this kind of senseless and illegal conduct.”

Vitaliy Konoplyov, 49, from Coney Island, was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 20-count indictment. The charges include second-degree manslaughter, second- and third-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree reckless endangerment, and related charges.

Konoplyov is being held on a bail of $1 million bond or $250,000 cash, and has been ordered to return to court on June 21, 2023.

According to the District Attorney, the incident occurred on March 20, 2023, around 12:48 p.m. Konoplyov was allegedly speeding in a 2015 white Toyota Camry, running multiple red lights on 18th Avenue when he collided with a 2016 black Honda HR-V, driven by Stancho Stanchev, 51, at 64th Street.

The impact caused Stanchev’s vehicle to spin out of control, jumping the curb, and striking pedestrian Leung Yuet, 65. The vehicle then hit a 2021 silver Chevy Equinox, driven by a 71-year-old man.

Yuet was pronounced dead at the scene, while Stanchev later died at Maimonides Hospital. Stanchev’s 49-year-old passenger sustained severe brain injuries. The 71-year-old man driving the Chevy Equinox was unharmed.

Konoplyov, who remained at the scene, had two passengers in his vehicle. A 32-year-old man was taken to Maimonides Hospital for minor injuries, and a 46-year-old man was taken to NYU Langone Hospital with significant injuries to his face and left hand.