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2 dead, 5 injured when car jumps curb in Brooklyn

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2 killed, several injured in crash in Brooklyn 00:48

NEW YORK - Two people are dead and four more were hurt when a car jumped a curb in Brooklyn Monday afternoon. 

It happened around 12:47 p.m. at 64th Street near 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst.

Check back soon for more on this developing story. 

 

Suspect charged overnight

Vitalily Konoplyov was charged overnight with manslaughter and aggravated unlicensed operator. 

Police said the 49-year-old Brooklyn man was behind the wheel of the 2015 Toyota Camry that set off the chain-reaction crash. 

By CBS New York Team
 

"It was like an explosion"

At the scene of Monday's multi-vehicle accident in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, you can see just how fast the car must have been going when it collided with another vehicle in an intersection.

When the dust settled, it ended up much further away.

Investigation continues into deadly multi-vehicle accident in Bensonhurst 01:49

Surveillance footage shows a white car careening through the intersection of 64th Street and 18th Avenue. Police say the driver was speeding and ran a red light before crashing into a dark SUV and spinning out of control onto the sidewalk, hitting multiple pedestrians.

"I see this white car coming fast, flooring," said Vito Conigliaro, who runs nearby J&V Pizza. "Seconds later, it was like an explosion. I turn around and I see all this mess."

Two people died in the collision -- the driver of the SUV and one pedestrian, police said. Five others were taken to the hospital, including one in critical condition.

"He was flying," Conigliaro said.

The driver of the white car, a 49-year-old man, was taken into police custody.

"Disgusted and frightened," long-time Bensonhurst resident Carmine Lomonaco said.

Other residents said they were stunned by the recklessness, and angry that people drive so fast in this busy neighborhood.

"We need to put people in jail and keep them off the streets," Lomonaco said.

"It's disgusting. They have no regard for human life anymore," Florence Kehoe added.

Some witnesses told CBS2 it looked like the car was going double the speed limit. 

By Nick Caloway
 

Get the latest on the investigation

Two people were killed and five others were injured in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on Monday after police say a speeding car ran a red light and hit another car in an intersection.

Police blocked off part of 18th Avenue and at least three cars were part of the investigation. One was a white sedan, which appears to have jumped the curb. In the middle of the street was a dark-colored SUV with its driver's side completely destroyed. Police told CBS2 the driver of that vehicle was pronounced dead.

A silver car with damage in the back was also seen.

2 killed in car crash in Brooklyn 02:15

Surveillance video shows the white car colliding into the black SUV at the intersection on 64th Street, sending the white car spinning out of control onto the curb while also taking down a pole with it. Several people who were walking there were very narrowly missed.

A closer look at the damage to the vehicles showed shattered glass, open airbags, and shards of metal scattered all over the street. Police say two people were killed, another was critically injured, and four others were also taken to the hospital.

It happened just before 1 p.m., according to police. They said where the accident took place is a busy commercial corridor, so a lot of people were out when it happened. Lots of people were seen trying to go shop, but couldn't pass because of the crash.

CBS2 spoke with a witness who was standing nearby and saw the whole thing happen.

"I've never see an accident like this in my life. The guy had to come really, really fast. I've been impacted by this and knock down the left -- everything, the pole. It's incredible," the witness said.

Police have confirmed that the driver of the white car was taken into custody.

By Hannah Kliger
 

Chopper 2 over the scene

2 killed, several injured in crash in Brooklyn 00:48
By CBS New York Team
 

Driver in custody after two people are killed

The NYPD says two people were killed in the crash. Four others were injured. 

Police say a 49-year-old man was driving "at a high rate of speed" on 18th Avenue and ran a red light. He then hit another vehicle which was crossing 64th Street. That other car then jumped the curb and struck pedestrians. 

The driver was taken into custody. 

By CBS New York Team
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