‘They came here to escape death’: The father of two is ‘killed by a drunk driver’ after fleeing Ukraine with his family when Russia invaded
- Yurii Vakhniak, 40, was fatally shot while transporting cars on March 13
- Vakhniak escaped the Ukraine War and started his own transport company
- Seydina Ndiaye, 26, was arrested for allegedly hitting the father of two
A father of two who was killed loading cars in North Carolina had fled the war in Ukraine for a better life.
Yurii Vakhniak, 40, was working for his auto transportation company Anastasia Services Inc. when he was fatally struck by repeat DWI offender Seydina Ndiaye, 26, on US 70 in Johnston County on March 13.
Vakhniak relocated to Illinois with his wife Ivanka and children Anastasia and Vova after escaping the conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began last February.
He was on his way to Tennessee to deliver a car when he was hit by three cars outside of his van.
“These guys work day and night to support their families, build a business and live the American Dream,” friend Alex Boom told WNCT. “They didn’t come here to die, they came here to escape death.”
Yurii Vakhniak was fatally shot while transporting a car for his company Anastasia Services Inc. on US 70 in Johnston County in March
Seydina Ndiaye, 26, a repeat DWI offender, was arrested for allegedly beating Vakhniak
Bloom described Vakhniak as a “fluffy, friendly teddy bear” who sacrificed much for his loved ones.
Vakhinak’s good friend Alex Boom (above) helped him start the car transport business
“He was a good guy who gave everything he had to his friends and family,” Bloom said.
Vakhniak named his company after his daughter, but hasn’t been in the US long enough to “fulfill his American dream,” according to a GoFundMe dedicated to Vakhniak.
“Like many of our Eastern European brothers and sisters, he found work in the transportation industry,” wrote Alexander Katsman, organizer of the fundraiser.
“He started working as a car transporter to provide for his family and to grow in this country.”
Katsman continued, “Because Yurii was growing and investing in his business, he left no money behind for this tragic event.”
The money raised will be used to transport Vakhinak’s body to Ukraine for the funeral and to his wife.
By Sunday afternoon, $28,199 had been raised.
Meanwhile, his suspected killer is behind bars when his extensive traffic violations are exposed.
Vakhniak relocated to Illinois with his wife Ivanka and children Anastasia and Vova after escaping the conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began last February
Vakhniak was on his way to Tennessee to deliver a car when he was hit by three cars outside of his van
Footage from the crime scene showed heavy medical and police activity after the accident
Vakhniak (right) named his company after his daughter, but hasn’t been in the US long enough to “fulfill his American dream,” according to GoFundMe dedicated to Vakhniak
The money raised will be used to transport Vakhinak’s body to Ukraine for the funeral and to his wife
Ndiaye was arrested Monday for allegedly beating Vakhniak. Records showed he was driving illegally with a revoked driver’s license and had faced three previous DWI charges, the most recent of which was reported last year, according to the news outlet.
He appears to be familiar with North Carolina and has often been cited on various other charges, including driving without a license and speeding in Raleigh and Clayton.
Vakhniak’s grieving family wonders why Ndiaye was allowed to walk free without consequences.
“We were all kind of shocked that this person is still on the street. We want to make sure he doesn’t kill any more of our friends,” Bloom told the news outlet.