Five people have been arrested in connection with a devastating California crash that killed two teenage best friends just as they were beginning their senior year of high school.
The deadly wreck happened Aug. 14 in Victorville, where authorities say two drivers were traveling at “extremely high speeds” through a residential neighborhood before crashing into the vehicle carrying the girls.
The California Highway Patrol identified the two suspected drivers as George Gary Sanchez, 49, and Terry Lamar Easter, 50.
Investigators believe Sanchez was driving a Dodge Charger, while Easter was allegedly behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro.
Both vehicles collided with the car carrying 17-year-old Maddalyn Dailey and 16-year-old Isabell DeLang, authorities said.
Sanchez was arrested shortly after the crash.
Easter allegedly fled the scene and remained at large for days before surrendering to police on Wednesday, Aug. 26, following a multi-day search.
The girls’ families said Maddalyn and Isabell had been close friends since elementary school and attended Sultana High School together.
Maddalyn’s father, Dustin Dailey, told KTLA that the two teens were “inseparable.”
He said his daughter was driving Isabell home and planned to return for dinner with her family when the crash happened.
Dailey said he heard the collision and immediately feared the worst.
“I would do anything to have her back right now,” he told the outlet.
Their families later wrote in separate GoFundMe campaigns that both girls had “so much life ahead” of them.
As the investigation continued, three additional people were arrested on suspicion of being accessories.
They were identified as Ryan James Lewis, 45, of Victorville; Lukevy Shawntell Yates, 49, of Apple Valley; and Madge Wells, 74, of Apple Valley.
According to the CHP, all three cooperated with investigators and were later released.
Sanchez and Easter were booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter with negligence.
It was not immediately clear whether either man had entered a plea or retained an attorney.
“The apprehension of these suspects reflects the CHP’s commitment to pursuing justice,” CHP Inland Division Chief Tariq Johnson said.
“While nothing can erase the devastating loss of two young lives, we hope these arrests bring some measure of comfort to their families and send a clear message that those responsible for senseless acts will be held accountable.”
