Driver who crashed, burned sports car June 13 near Kent rolled similar BMW in 2014

Two die in latest wreck; three injured in earlier accident

Driver who crashed, burned sports car June 13 near Kent rolled similar BMW in 2014

A 28-year-old man, who crashed and burned his sports car two weeks ago near Kent killing himself and his passenger, rolled a car four years ago in Eastern Washington that injured himself and two passengers.

Sergey L. Lakotiy, of Seattle, died from multiple blunt force injury in the June 13 single-car accident in the 26800 block of East Valley Highway near the Kent/Auburn city borders, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Lakotiy was driving a yellow 2007 BMW M6 northbound at a high rate of speed at about 5:30 a.m. when he lost control, rolled down an embankment, hit a large tree and the vehicle burst into flames, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

David Kharlanov, 27, of Federal Way, a passenger in the car, died from smoke inhalation, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Both men were dead when firefighters and police arrived at the scene.

Traffic investigators found long skid marks along the highway. The car had racing tires without much traction and it had been raining, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A final report by traffic investigators isn’t expected to be done until the middle of July, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ryan Abbott.

In 2014, Lakotiy rolled a sports car Aug. 31 along State Route 2 in Grant County near Coulee City, according to a report at skyvalleychronicle.com. The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Lakotiy was the driver in the 2014 accident as well as the crash two weeks ago, although he drove a different model BMW.

The Washington State Patrol reported a black 2008 BMW M3 was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on SR 2 when the driver lost control of the car which then left the road to the south, smashed into a power pole, rolled and came to rest on its top just off the roadway.

Lakotiy lived in Kent at the time of the 2014 accident. Both of his passengers were from Renton. The WSP report said it was believed the accident was caused by excessive speed and that alcohol use was believed to have been a factor in the crash.

Friends of Kharlanov, who died in the June 13 crash, started a gofundme.com account to help pay for his funeral. He is survived by his parents and four siblings, according to the post.

“This terrible loss was totally unexpected to the family and loved ones,” according to the post. “David’s mother has a weak heart and poor health in general, and his father is disabled after a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. The family is barely making ends meet at this point, and are now facing this horrible tragedy of losing their oldest son.

“On top of their loss, they are now stressing about how they can come up with the funds to cover the funeral expenses. Please find it in your hearts to help this family in anyway possible, if not financially, then please lift the family up in prayer, so that God can comfort them and guide them through this dark and gloomy season.”

Services for Kharlanov were Sunday at Way To Salvation Church in Kent. He was buried Monday at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn.

A gofundme page for Lakotiy to help his family pay for funeral expenses had the following remarks.

“Sergei was the most caring soul you would ever have met,” according to the post. “As the day was just beginning, his life was taken suddenly by a tragic car accident. While Sergei has left us behind, he will forever be survived by us, his family, and the many friends he had fostered over the course of his life.”

Services were pending for Lakotiy, although the location was expected to be The Church of Grace in Renton, a Ukrainian-American church.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Kent city leaders to pursue state streamlined sales tax mitigation funds

Lobbying Legislature for more revenue to help uplift the Kent community

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District seeks applicants for vacant board position

Residents must live in District 4; board will pick replacement for Awale Farah who resigned

Appian Way Apartments, 25818 26th Pl. S., on Kent’s West Hill. COURTESY PHOTO, Apartments.com
Mercy Housing to pay for flood damages at Kent’s Appian Way Apartments

Units damaged after teen driver struck fire hydrant in parking lot

t
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire sends firefighters to combat LA wildfires

Seven firefighters part of group across the state to assist in California

t
Teen crashes into fire hydrant, floods Kent apartments

15-year-old driver reportedly moving car in parking lot when he struck hydrant

t
City of Kent opens two new roundabouts along Reith Road

Contractor wraps up construction along route between West Hill and Valley

File Photo
Death of Kent man, 61, at home in October 2024 ruled homicide

King County Sheriff’s Office says incident ‘remains an open death investigation’

t
Sound Transit light rail stations in Kent closer to completion | Photos

Vehicle testing begins as agency eyes spring 2026 opening of Federal Way Link extension

t
Kent Police bust four people for DUI on New Year’s Day

Officers arrest drivers between 1 and 5 a.m. during extra patrols following New Year’s Eve

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO
Three men charged in 2023 Kent murder of 48-year-old woman

Recent witness information identifying men help lead to charges in July 2023 shooting

FILE PHOTO, Bailey Jo Josie, Sound Publishing
Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38, killed in a March 19 crash.
Year in review: Kent’s top stories of 2024

A month-by-month look at several of the headlining stories.

t
Kent Reporter’s most viewed web stories of 2024

Second fatal shooting of Kent-Meridian student in three days leads the list