7
47
Two people died, and five others were hurt in a mangled crash between cars at a Brooklyn intersection Monday, authorities say.
Fire officials responding to the scene at 18th Avenue and 64th Street in Bensonhurst found people in need of extrication from the mangled wreck involving a Toyota Camry and a Honda HRV. A 49-year-old man was behind the wheel of the Camry heading south, when he struck the SUV in the intersection, according to police.
The crash primarily involved the white car that witnesses and police said was seen speeding, zig zagging before its driver ran through a red light at the intersection.
After colliding, both vehicles hit a 60-year-old woman who was walking at the time, while the Camry struck another car afterward, police said.
The two most badly hurt — the woman pedestrian and the 49-year-old driving the SUV, were taken to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition, but neither could be saved.
Three other victims were also transported to Maimonides, one of which was said to be in critical condition. The remaining to victims were taken to NYU Langone in Brooklyn.
Officials said the driver smashed directly into the side of a black car moving through the intersection. The driver of the black car, as well as the pedestrian struck in the commotion, died.
One person, Vitaliy Konoolyov, who is believed to be the driver of the speeding white Camry, was taken into custody at the scene and then hospitalized, police said. He was later charged with manslaughter and driving as an unlicensed operator.
Footage from the scene showed a white sedan completely up on the sidewalk, its front grill totaled. Debris littered the scene, which was cordoned off by yellow caution tape as bystanders gathered behind to watch the response.