Unlicensed Brooklyn driver who sparked deadly caught-on-camera crash held on $1M bond

Nicholas Williams, Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News
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The unlicensed driver whose reckless driving killed two people and injured five others in Brooklyn was ordered held on a $1 million bond following a Thursday arraignment.

Vitaliy Konoplyov, 49, told police he was trying to beat the light at the corner of 18th Ave. and 64th St. in Bensonhurst on Monday as he sped through the intersection and slammed into Stancho Stanchev, 51, who was behind the wheel of a Black Honda HR-V, officials said.

Prosecutors claim Konoplyov ran through multiple red lights as he zipped east on 64th St. before finally crashing into Stanchev.

Chilling surveillance footage shows the impact, which sent Konoplyov’s white Toyota Camry spinning out of control, onto the sidewalk and into a light pole.

Stanchev’s SUV also spun out and continued down 64th St., where it hit 60-year-old Leung Yuet as she was crossing the street.

A responding police officer worked to give Luet CPR on the scene, but she could not be saved. Stanchev did not survive, either.

Stanchev’s wife Tina Lomsadze was with him in the SUV and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, where she underwent surgery for a brain injury. She remains hospitalized.

Five people were hospitalized after the crash, including Muibov Amredden, 46, who survived after nearly being ejected from the back seat of Konoplyov’s Toyota and into the car’s windshield. He suffered lacerations to his face.

Konoplyov was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault, among other crimes.

At arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Thursday, the Coney Island man’s defense attorney argued he has no criminal history, roots in the city and a full time job.

“While I note he has no previous criminal conviction, these pending charges are troubling and he faces significant jail time if convicted on these charges,” said Judge Jennifer Tubridy.

Konoplyov was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail, $1 million insurance bond or $1 million partially secured bond. He’s due back in court on Friday.