Trial set for man charged in January street racing death
08/15/2014 7:50 AM
08/15/2014 2:53 PM
A trial date has been set for a man charged in the death of a fellow driver during a drag race in downtown Wichita in January.
Dacosta A. Yankey is scheduled to appear before a Sedgwick County jury Oct. 20 on one count of involuntary manslaughter, according to Sedgwick County District Court records. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing this week before district Judge Joe Kisner, records show.
Yankey is facing the manslaughter charge in the Jan. 12 traffic death of Jorge Espinosa-Velez. The men, police have said, started a spontaneous street race down Douglas Avenue that afternoon and within moments Espinosa-Velez lost control of his black convertible. The car slammed into a decorative stone pillar at Douglas and Market, killing the 26-year-old on impact.
Yankey, police have said, returned to the scene to try to render aid. The men reportedly knew one another.
Reach Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @amyreneeleiker.
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