A Whittier man who pleaded guilty to 18 counts connected to a crash that killed two Santa Clarita teens and a UPS truck driver in 2016, was sentenced to over two decades in state prison Friday.
“It was originally seven counts, but for the purpose of this negotiated plea agreement we added 11 counts of assaults,” Shiara Davila-Morales, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, said on Friday after the sentencing of Dealio Lockhart, 38. “He was sentenced to 22 years and four months” in prison.
On March 8 of this year, Lockhart pleaded guilty to being the cause of a Feb. 27, 2016, crash that killed Valencia residents Brian Lewandowski, 18, and Michelle Littlefield, 19. Scott Treadway, 52, a UPS truck driver from Mira Loma, was also killed, after Lockhart’s car flew into the truck while racing another vehicle on Interstate 5 in Commerce.
Two additional young people who were passengers with Littlefield and Lewandowski in their Nissan were critically injured.
All four occupants of the Nissan were employees of Six Flags Magic Mountain returning from a trip to Disneyland.
“Lockhart admitted all crimes charged in an 18-count amended complaint for a negotiated term of 22 years, 4 months,” Deputy District Attorney Michael Attorney said in March.
Lockhart originally was charged with three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving causing injury, but the amended complaint he received during his plea included:
- Three counts vehicular manslaughter.
- Four counts of engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway causing a specified injury.
- Eleven counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
After his guilty plea was entered last month, the father of Littlefield said there was little solace taken as a result of the plea.
“There is no equity, no redemption, no winners here,” said Willie Littlefield, whose daughter Michelle was one of three killed in the 2016 crash. “I can’t say I’m happy. I can’t say I’m satisfied.”
