Authorities have accused that a street racing incident in Victorville, Southern California, in mid-August resulted in the deaths of two teenage girls. One of the drivers involved has been charged with murder, while another driver who was racing with him has also been arrested and is awaiting further legal proceedings and formal charges.
On Friday, August 28th, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced that they have charged 50-year-old Terry Lamar Easter with two counts of murder in relation to the fatal car crash.
The accident occurred on the night of August 14th. Easter was driving a yellow Chevrolet Camaro at speeds of up to 117 miles per hour, racing against George Gary Sanchez in a Dodge Charger.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that as the two drivers approached the intersection of Ridgecrest Road and Elmwood Drive, their speeds were “extremely high”. At that moment, the two victims – 17-year-old Maddalyn Dailey and 16-year-old Isabel Hill – were driving out of the community.
First, Easter’s Chevrolet collided with the Acura driven by the two girls, followed by Sanchez’s Dodge crashing into the Acura sedan.
Prosecutors stated that due to the significant impact, the Acura was split into two, leading to the immediate deaths of both victims who were 12th-grade students at Sultana High School.
Both drivers have been registered as suspects in connection with murder and gross vehicular manslaughter involving driving a vehicle. According to the prosecutor’s statement, Easter is charged with murder along with a misdemeanor charge (street racing) and a felony charge (child abuse, potentially resulting in serious injury or death).
At the time of the accident, Easter’s 8-year-old son was also in the car. However, he fled the scene after the crash, leaving his son behind in the vehicle.
Easter was arrested by authorities on Wednesday, August 26. Sanchez, on the other hand, was arrested shortly after the accident.
Prosecutors will hold Easter accountable for each charge. District Attorney Jason Anderson stated, “This was not an accident. Engaging in street racing at 117 miles per hour is an intentional and extremely dangerous act that took the lives of two young friends, endangered his own 8-year-old child, and he even left the child behind at the scene after the accident.”
Easter is scheduled to appear in court at the Victorville Superior Court V9 courtroom for trial on Monday, August 31.
During the process of arresting Easter, authorities also detained three other individuals, who were released after cooperating with law enforcement investigations.
Sanchez, the other driver involved, remained at the scene to assist in the police investigation. He was later arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and was released on bail, awaiting further legal proceedings. As of Friday, no charges had been filed against him.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Southern California has seen a deadly culture of street racing, causing multiple fatalities.