LOS ANGELES >> A Whittier man accused of three counts of murder and other charges in connection with an alleged street-racing crash on the 5 Freeway in Commerce that killed a two teens and a UPS driver denied the charges in court Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Dealio Lockhart, 35, pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving causing injury in connection with the fiery, six-vehicle crash that took place just after midnight on Feb. 27, on the southbound 5 Freeway, near Triggs Street, just after midnight Feb. 27, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
He was driving a Dodge Challenger and racing Dodge Charger when the crash occurred, according to investigators from the California Highway Patrol.
“One of the vehicles lost control, causing a UPS truck to go airborne and land over the center median,” district attorney’s officials said in a written statement.
The second driver involved in the race has not been found, officials said. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the second alleged street racer.
Killed in the crash were UPS driver Scott Treadway, 52, of Mira Loma; 19-year-old Michelle Littlefield of Santa Clarita; and 18-year-old Brian Lewandowski of Santa Clarita, who was the son of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detective.
Four other people suffered serious injuries in the wreck, prosecutors said.
Lockhart was ordered back to court May 3 for a preliminary hearing setting, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials said.
At Wednesday’s hearing, a judge denied a motion to reduce Lockhart’s bail, district attorney’s office spokeswoman Jane Robison said. He remains jailed in lieu of $6.2 million bail.

PHOTO courtesy of Caltrans