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Sons of Doomed Governor, Prominent Businessman Killed in Brutal Moscow Car Crash

Igor Yesipovsky, the father of the 23-year-old driver, died in 2009.

A Porsche 911 carrying the sons of an ill-fated ex-governor and a prominent businessman was split in half after it crashed into a billboard in the center of Moscow on Saturday, killing both the driver and the passenger, news reports said.

The driver has been identified in media reports as the 23-year-old son of Igor Yesipovsky, whose term as governor was cut short in 2009 when he was killed in a helicopter crash. His son was also named Igor.

Riding with the younger Yesipovsky was Talya Ballo, 27, son of Igor Ballo, founder of Moscow's Gaming Business Association, Gazeta.ru reported.

Both young men were thrown from the vehicle when it collided with the billboard. They died on the spot.  

The crash occurred early Saturday morning following heavy rains, leading some experts to believe hydroplaning may have played a role in the crash, Gazeta.ru reported.

High speed is also believed to have been a factor. News site LifeNews reported that the car was likely traveling upward of 150 kilometers per hour (94 miles per hour). According to LifeNews, Yesipovsky had incurred more than 30 speeding fines since the start of this year.

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