Father-of-two killed by a repeat drunk driver had fled Ukraine to live the American Dream
‘They came here to escape death’: Father-of-two is ‘killed by drunk driver’ after fleeing Ukraine with family once Russia invaded
- Yurii Vakhniak, 40, was fatally struck while transporting cars on March 13.
- Vakhniak escaped the Ukrainian war and started his own transport business.
- Seydina Ndiaye, 26, was arrested for allegedly beating the father of two
A father of two killed while loading cars in North Carolina had fled the war in the Ukraine in search of a better life.
Yurii Vakhniak, 40, was working for his auto transport business, Anastasia Services Inc., when he was fatally struck along US 70 in Johnston County on March 13 by repeat DWI offender Seydina Ndiaye, 26 years old.
Vakhniak moved to Illinois with his wife Ivanka and their children, Anastasia and Vova, after escaping the Ukraine-Russia conflict that began last February.
He was heading to Tennessee to make a car delivery when he was struck out of his three-car truck.
“These guys work around the clock to support their family, grow a business and achieve the American dream,” their friend Alex Boom told WNCT. ‘You didn’t come here to die, you came here to escape death.’
Yurii Vakhniak was fatally struck while transporting a car for his business, Anastasia Services Inc., when he was fatally struck along US 70 in Johnston County in March.
Repeat DWI offender Seydina Ndiaye, 26, was arrested for allegedly beating Vakhniak
Bloom described Vakhniak as a “friendly fluffy teddy bear” who sacrificed a lot for his loved ones.
Vakhinak’s good friend Alex Boom (above) helped him start the car transport company.
“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 he wasn’t in the US long enough to “realize his American dream,” a GoFundMe dedicated to reading Vakhniak.
“Like many of our Eastern European brothers and sisters, he found work in the transport industry,” wrote fundraiser organizer Alexander Katsman.
‘He started working as a car transporter so he could support his family and grow up in this country.’
Katsman continued: “Because Yurii was growing his business and investing in it, he left no money for this tragic event.”
The money raised will go towards transporting Vakhinak’s body to Ukraine for burial and that of his wife.
As of Sunday afternoon, $28,199 had been raised.
Meanwhile, his suspected killer is behind bars as his numerous traffic violations have been revealed.
Vakhniak moved to Illinois with his wife Ivanka and their children, Anastasia and Vova, after escaping the Ukraine-Russia conflict that began last February.
Vakhniak was heading to Tennessee to make a car delivery when he was struck out of his three-car truck.
Images from the scene showed extensive medical and police activity after the accident.
Vakhniak (right) named his company after his daughter, but he wasn’t in the US long enough to “make his American dream come true,” read a GoFundMe dedicated to Vakhniak.
The money raised will go towards transporting Vakhinak’s body to Ukraine for burial and his wife.
Ndiaye was arrested Monday for allegedly beating Vakhniak. Records showed he was driving illegally with a revoked license and faced three prior DWI charges with the last reported last year, according to the news outlet.
He appears to be familiar with North Carolina and has often been cited for various other charges, including driving with a revoked license and speeding, in Raleigh and Clayton.
Vakhniak’s grieving family wonders why Ndiaye was allowed to roam free without repercussions.
“We were all a little surprised that this person is still on the streets. We want to make sure he doesn’t kill another one of our friends,” Bloom told the news outlet.