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

Federal Way man died in latest accident

A 28-year-old man, who crashed and burned his sports car two weeks ago near Kent killing himself and his passenger, a 27-year-old Federal Way man, 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, 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.