The driver of one of the two vehicles suspected of street racing last weekend on a Southern California freeway and causing a multi-vehicle crash that left three people dead was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder, prosecutors said.

In addition to three counts of murder, Dealio Lockhart, 35, was also charged with four counts of reckless driving on a highway causing injury, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Lockhart was allegedly driving his Dodge Challenger on the 5 Freeway near Commerce and racing the driver of a Dodge Charger shortly after midnight Saturday, prosecutors said.

Join the conversation on Facebook >>


One of the suspected street racers lost control of their vehicle and slammed into a UPS truck, which flew into the air, landed on the center divider, smashed into traffic and exploded.

The UPS truck collided with a Nissan, shearing off its top, before hitting a red Ford Explorer. The charred wreckage prompted a shutdown of both directions of the freeway for about 24 hours.

Two passengers in the Nissan -- Brian Lewandowski, 18, and Michelle Littlefield, 19 -- were killed. The driver of the UPS truck, Scott Treadway, 52, also died. Four others, including two people riding in the Nissan, were injured. Their identities were not released.

Authorities are continuing to search for the driver of the Dodge Charger, who fled and remains at large.


Lockhart, a resident of Whittier, was arrested at the scene. Officer Alex Rubio of the California Highway Patrol previously said that Lockhart admitted to investigators that he had been racing.

He’s scheduled to appear in a downtown L.A. courtroom on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors are asking for his bail to be set at $3.2 million.

If convicted of all charges, Lockhart faces up to life in state prison.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.


Times staff writers Matt Stevens and Frank Shyong contributed to this report.

ALSO

Surgeon recounts efforts to save the life of sole ‘Grim Sleeper’ survivor

Man charged with more than two dozen felonies in string of violent crimes across L.A. County


After suspected drug overdose deaths, Fairplex won’t host raves in 2016