Driver charged with involuntary manslaughter in January street racing death

A man involved in a downtown Wichita street race that left the other driver dead in January has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to a criminal complaint filed in Sedgwick County District Court.

Dacosta A. Yankey, 26, is facing the felony count in the death of Jorge Espinosa-Velez, who was killed after his car slammed into a decorative pillar at Douglas and Market during a spontaneous street race Jan. 12. Yankey, the driver of the other car involved in the race, made his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on the charge Thursday morning, court records show. He is also charged with one misdemeanor count of street race or exhibit of speed in the case.

Wichita police have said that Espinosa-Velez, 26, died on impact after his black Honda convertible struck the pillar on the driver’s door. He lost control as the two cars were approaching Broadway while westbound on Douglas shortly before 3 p.m. that day. Witnesses told authorities the convertible and the gray 2004 Chrysler driven by Yankey had been stopped at a traffic light in downtown Wichita prior to the start of the race.

Yankey returned to the crash scene to try to render aid, police have said. The men reportedly knew one another.

The criminal complaint filed against Yankey accuses him of unlawfully causing Espinosa-Velez’s death “while in the commission of ... a misdemeanor enacted for the protection of human life or safety.” Authorities have said speed was a factor in the crash.

Yankey is due back in court for a preliminary hearing June 5. He is free on $25,000 bond.

A database maintained by The Eagle shows that Yankey has been issued multiple traffic tickets by Wichita police since 2005, including three for speeding and two for careless driving.

This story was originally published May 22, 2014 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Driver charged with involuntary manslaughter in January street racing death."