 On 27 May 1973 Okunev and his wife were involved in a serious traffic accident from which Okunev died 17 days later, on his 42nd birthday.After his death, an asteroid was named for him ('10990 Okunev') by its discoverer, N. S. Chernykh.Okunev developed an individual style which became strongly, if indirectly, influenced by the music he became acquainted with in Kirghizia.