Murder charges filed for fatal Montclair crash in police pursuit

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- Prosecutors have filed two counts of murder and other criminal charges against a driver who allegedly led police on a chase Saturday and crashed into another car, killing two people.

Louis Lazalde, a 26-year-old parolee, pleaded not guilty to eight felonies Tuesday in West Valley Superior Court. He remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $2 million bail.

Lazalde, of Whittier, allegedly collided with another car at about 5 a.m. Saturday at Central Avenue and Orchard Street in Montclair, killing Jose Gilbert Garcia, 42, of San Bernardino, and Garcia's 16-year-old nephew, Luis Alberto Garcia of Yucaipa.

According to a Montclair police news release, Lazalde's ex-girlfriend called Ontario police to report that Lazalde had threatened to kill her.

Police staked out the house, and saw Lazalde's car pass the home several times. Police tried to pull him over, and he fled the area, eventually colliding with the other car, according to the news release.

Both victims were pronounced dead at about 5:30 a.m. at Montclair Hospital Medical Center, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

Lazalde was booked after he was treated for a minor ankle he injury he suffered in the crash, police said.

Besides two counts of murder, prosecutors charged Lazalde with evading an officer causing death, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, making criminal threats, and two felonies related to drunken driving.

He is scheduled to next appear in court Tuesday.