USC Union Photo
Mia Camille Stokes, USC Union softball player killed Feb. 7, 2020.
USC Union Photo
Grace Rebecca Revels, USC Union softball player killed Feb. 7, 2020.
Spartanburg County Solicitor's Office
Yuriy Karpik, 27, pleaded guilty in Spartanburg to two counts of Felony DUI with Death, two counts of Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury, and one count of Malicious Injury to Personal Property value over $2,000.
Yuriy Karpik, 27, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Spartanburg to two counts of Felony DUI with Death, two counts of Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury, and one count of Malicious Injury to Personal Property value over $2,000. Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly issued the sentence.
The crimes occurred on the night of February 7, 2020, approximately one mile south of the City of Spartanburg on Highway 295 / Southport Road.
A Mustang driven by Devyn McKinley Royce of Pinewood was travelling south on Southport Road. Royce was driving three (3) of her friends back to USC Union after visiting Academy Sports in Spartanburg where the four women bought sporting goods for their softball team.
In addition to Royce, in the Mustang were Grace Rebecca Revels of Lancaster, and twin sisters Mallory and Mia Camille Stokes of Charlotte, N.C. All of the occupants in the Mustang driven by Royce were wearing seatbelts.
Karpik was driving his Toyota Camry northbound on Southport Road at approximately 10 p.m. As he later admitted to law enforcement and medical personnel, Karpik had consumed wine and four beers that evening. Karpik was travelling at a high rate of speed when he drove his Toyota across the paved median of Southport Road into oncoming traffic.
Karpik’s vehicle struck the Mustang driven by Royce head-on on the passenger side. Witnesses noted the collision happened so fast Royce had no time to react. First responders and multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the collision where several occupants were trapped in the Mustang.
Mia Camille Stokes and Grace Rebecca Revels, both seated on the passenger side of the Mustang, received fatal injuries from the collision. Mallory Stokes and Royce were transported to SRMC for injuries. Karpik was also transported to SRMC and was determined to be under the influence. A hospital blood test showed Karpik’s blood alcohol was .209 and a legal blood test drawn later and tested by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division showed a blood alcohol of .152 in his system. Members of the South Carolina Highway Patrol located a bottle of wine in the back floorboard of Karpik’s vehicle.
Solicitor Barry Barnette and Assistant Solicitor Spenser Smith prosecuted Karpik. "There is no excuse for the illegal behavior Karpik engaged in that night which stole the bright futures of two young women and will impact the Revels, Stokes, and Royce families and friends forever," Barnette said.
"Felony DUI is a completely preventable crime if people will not get behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence." Barnette said.