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UPDATED: Street Racing Crash In Commerce, California Kills Three And Completely Shuts Down Interstate 5


UPDATED: Street Racing Crash In Commerce, California Kills Three And Completely Shuts Down Interstate 5

(Lead Photo: Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) Three people are dead because two drivers decided that Interstate 5 in Los Angeles, California was a great place to have a street race. The details of this accident are pretty graphic, we will warn you now, but with the growing concern over street racing, especially in the southern California area, we feel that it is important to showcase just how destructive letting cars have at it outside of a controlled area really is. If you’re always concerned about why the police and politicians are constantly concerned with high-performance cars, gatherings, and so on, here’s your reason…

Just after midnight, a Dodge Challenger driven by 35-year-old Dealio Lockhard of Whittier, California paired off with a Dodge Charger driven by an as-of-yet unknown driver on southbound I-5. During the race, Lockhart’s Challenger ran up on a slower vehicle and tried to pass, but when the slower car merged into the same lane, he hit the brakes and lost control of the car. The Challenger struck a UPS semi-tractor, causing it to crash through a center divider and become airborne. The tractor struck a Nissan Sentra, shearing off the roof of the car, killing two passengers and putting the other two into the hospital in critical condition. When the truck landed in the oncoming lane, it struck several vehicles before coming to rest on top of an SUV. In total, eight cars were involved, four people are in critical condition in the hospital and three people, the two passengers in the Nissan and the driver of the UPS truck, are dead. Because Interstate 5 in the Los Angeles Metro area seemed like a racetrack.

As it is, there are already individuals blowing up the CHP Southern Division’s Facebook page, angered that Lockhart, who was arrested and is currently facing vehicular manslaughter charges, should be punished even further, with one commenter noting, “Manslaughter? Is that the best you can do?” It isn’t difficult to figure out why the public is upset over this: three dead, four seriously injured because two individuals, one who is probably in hiding while trying to figure out what to do with his dark-colored Charger, couldn’t take it to a track. We know well about how many racetracks there are in Southern California. You aren’t telling us anything we don’t already know. And we know that there will always be that enclave of people who will insist that the streets will be the only place they race. There were better solutions for this issue, but that’s an argument that can happen later. Right now, there are families that won’t be seeing loved ones because two guys took it to the Interstate. Take note of the report: the reporter says “drag racer”. Don’t think for a second that the media cares about the difference between what happened here and what goes on at tracks across the country.

More information has come to light since this story was posted:

  • The driver admitted to authorities when he was in custody that he was street racing the other car.
  • The UPS driver who perished in the wreck was a 30 year employee of the company
  • KCAL-TV in California is reporting that the speeds of the cars were in the 85-90 mph range
  • Commerce, California is about eight miles west of Los Angeles
  • CHP officers have said that the female victims in the Nissan appeared to be in their 20s.
  • There are currently no leads and no information regarding the driver of the second car.


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39 thoughts on “UPDATED: Street Racing Crash In Commerce, California Kills Three And Completely Shuts Down Interstate 5

  1. Shane

    Uh oh… where know where this is going to go in the Media… Prepare for a shitstorm on street racing again, and to be put in the spotlight. This is going to help the EPA wanting to ban car mods at all either…

    1. John

      F*ck the sensationalist media and rabid, car-hating, enviro-mental fanatics at the EPA.This is fault of one asshole (actually two) and no one else! THEY and ONLY THEY are the ones responsible. I for one am more than SICK AND TIRED OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT! Punish those responsible and them only–not the rest of us law-abiding, sensible citizens.

  2. C Royer

    This is a tragic event that is a black eye to the entire car culture. There have always been STUPID people, with todays multi-media it just gets a larger foot print. The fact that more people where hurt and killed by impaired drivers during the time frame of this event is more of a problem than street racing (DO NOT CALL IT DRAG RACING). My condolences to the victims here. I drive truck for a living, see people who drive like they learned to drive on video games, drive so crazy that I do not understand how they survive their daily drives.

  3. Blu67RS

    Some people drive with the idea that it won’t happen to them, because it happened to someone else, not me. The wheel of fortune is always spinning. It is really sad that people have to die so others can learn. What idiots! If they were on some back road, somewhere and one car went through a fence and rolled or something, it wouldn’t even make the news.

  4. orange65

    A very sad day for some families. My condolences to the victim’s families and a quick recovery for those who were injured. The solution you mention about tracks probably would not matter in this case as they were probably roll racing- not something you do at a track. Also consider the mentality of actual street racers (as shown on everyone’s favorite TV show) that some people just DON’T want to race at a track- consequences be damned. Some people are just destined to be dumb asses (and as a result, occasionally murderers). I expect they will find the other guy and put both of them in jail for as long as they can- and rightfully so. They ought to also remove the right for either of them to ever own a motor vehicle again.

  5. coffeejoejava

    I have said it before and I will say it again….everyone that has made those street racing shows popular has blood on your hands. Those shows are down right illegal and, with the video as proof of the fact, everyone of the participants ought to be rounded up and charged to the fullest extent of the law.

    I do not care if they are “professional” drivers, they are not racing professionally and should be treated as the criminals they are.

    I love to drive, and I love to drive fast. But there is a time and a place for it and city streets and highways are not either the time or place.

    1. Mark F.

      Sorry, but you are off your rocker..
      How do the people that are part of the T.V. shows, have blood on their hands..????

      ARE you implying that a entertainment media.. The T.V. and a T.V. show is to blame, ?? First they put a warning at the start of the show.. just for people like you that think this way..

      It is T.V. It’s not real life.. if you can’t understand that, then you have a problem..
      and by your thinking it’s soap’s fault that people cheat, and it’s crime/law/drama shows that are at fault for people killing others..

      Sad.. that people think like you.. It’s ENTERTAINMENT… not real life, they are not racing on public roads with traffic, they are closed off.. and everyone with 2 revolving brain cells knows and understands this..

      As for the sad story. It is just that.. sad.. Sure the two that decided to race on the street didn’t make a wise choice.. And should pay for that choice..
      Sadly we in the hobby will pay dearly for their mistake..
      I’ll never understand why a driver of a big rig would change coarse instead of just clipping the car.. and pushing it.. if he/she did that.. no one would be dead but maybe the driver of the mopar.. and that is doubtful .
      The 2 fools racing are the cause but the big rig’s drivers choice of action is what killed and put many in the hospital,,,, not blaming him/her.. as he/she only reacted the way they were trained..
      I think that needs to change, if you watch a bunch of dash cam footage from other country’s big rigs drivers tend to not swerve to miss a vehicle that has come in their path at speed that they can’t avoid . they just let it bounce off it, then pull over..

      I think the media also sucks,,, if this was 2 people in family cars racing it have got no ink at all, other than 2 cars caused a wreck that tied up traffic and left 3 dead and many injured …
      Like they say f it bleeds it leads.. I’ll bet more died that night on that coast from DUI’s but that doesn’t get ratings,

      1. mike

        You have no clue..the truck driver ..really..this idiot comes as long at a high rate of speed ..hits truck sends its over wall…what course of action should he have taken??

      2. Tracey S

        Hey Mark F,

        Why not work on reading and comprehending the story before slandering the UPS driver. He DID NOT change his path of travel. The Challenger came up on a slower CAR which changed lanes causing the street racing asshat to loose control of his car and strike the UPS semi sending it onto a path resulting in the drivers death as well as the death of the other innocent drivers.
        Manslaughter? The ass in the Challenger is getting off lite if thats all he gets.

      3. Matt

        Dude you’re full of shit if you get hit in a big rig an 80 or 90 mile an hour in the ass you’re going to change course I drive a truck for a living and I watch you idiots everyday and people like you making statements about the truck driver you do not know what you’re talking about

    2. Rob Burk

      BULL, another PC moment in OUR PC enviroment.

      SO I GUESS… ALL THE PEOPLE SCREWING ON THE CELL PHONES IN MODERN SOCIETY NEVER CAUSES THIS???????????? BUT IF WE ASKED TO TAKE AWAY THE CELL PHONES, YOU THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN? (nothing, because that is the opinion of the irresponsible, hypocritical masses)

      Far more of this, is caused by cells, alcohol, drugs, inattention, lack of sleep and in-general poor driving skills….And NEVER seems to light up the media. If some fool was driving, reading a news paper, and killed a bunch of people during a morning commute due to his lack of attention… It would be an “unfortunate accident”. but we need to hang these guys from the gallows because “street racing”( i actually don’t disagree with the what, just the why and i will explain). Now… this pair of guys made some poor choices here. and they deserve what’s coming, which is probably vehicular manslaughter. They Used Poor judgement and cost others their lives, and A LOT of grief to their families (My Best wishes go out to the families, not a place i would want to be because of any reason). Where i disagree, is the medias reaction (headline/ratings maker) and Mctagart/bangshift’s, tongue-in-cheek reaction. Because you know it happens. Bangshift and others cover a lot of content that has everything to do with it, and the hands off stance is completely transparent to me and everyone else. You know it happens, and you can’t stop it. Tell a teenager not to have sex… tell them just don’t… see what happens. you know how that will go…. it will happen anyway despite your stance/desires. BUT, come out and teach them, how to deal with it,educate them, and teach how to be safe, you will have an entirely better outcome for everyone… by being honest about it. (some of you will know where i get that comparison, and who gets credit for it. it was a good one, so i used it) You can’t group every person with these fools in the above story . Most use better judgement, find a place that is quiet, late at night, no traffic, no cross roads. They do their business and no one is the wiser. It is a part of American culture. it started when Henry ford rolled the second POS off the line. If these guys get the gallows, it’s cool with me, just as long as the rest of the inattentive, non caring, $#!thead, piss poor drivers get the same consequences because of root cause…’poor decision making’, Not “street racing”.

  6. Brian

    I cannot be happier with your statement regarding losing tracks is no excuse for this.
    Thank you for taking the stance that has to be taken if we want to continue to build and enjoy hot rods.
    Most of the population views our hobby as only destructive, and with shit like this fighting that only grows harder.

    1. Mark F.

      I doubt these two were part of this hobby.. Even if they are, it doesn’t matter..
      What matters is the way the news media reports things like this.. and don’t think for a second that it isn’t part of the agenda..

      What if the facts were just two drivers speeding and one loosing it because they though the car he/she was coming up on would stay in that lane. but didn’t and lost it trying to not hit that vehicle??? WAIT,, no ratings buzz there ….

      or, what if it was road rage and two speeding..
      Even if it was either one of those, the news media would headline it as drag racing..

      Most of the population has thought of the car hobby as destructive outlaws from day one.. THAT will never change..

      Yes these 2 racing on public street/highway was stupid.. no question..

      but change it to one car loosing control say from a blow out, and the rig driver trying to miss the vehicle, the same outcome would have happened.. only the news wouldn’t have a eye catching headline..

      cause if cars are speeding because they are racing or just because.. it could happen..
      What if the driver that change lane didn’t use a signal?? sure speeding is breaking the law,, but not signaling is also.. But even if that fact came out, That driver would not be charged..
      Racing on the street is stupid, and dangerous because you never know what others will do… but what if a simple thing like use f the turn signal could’ve changed the whole thing?? 2 dopes racing is only part of why what unfolded, did..
      It wasn’t them racing that caused this…. Them speeding did and maybe another driver not signaling.. but no matter..

  7. ratty

    Maybe it’s time we should stop blaming others, stop blaming ‘the media’ about inaccurately using the term ‘drag racing’ instead of the correct use of ‘street racing’ every time another senseless horrific street racing crash occurs taking the lives of innocent people who were doing nothing else than trying to get home to their loved ones, or making a living as commercial drivers. How many of our drag racing friends, acquaintances at the track, TV networks, drag publications and web media sites, and even some track owners themselves promote street racing in one way or another? How often do we see articles about our favorite street racing car and personality? How often do tracks promote ‘street racing nights’, with those same street racing personalities there for an autograph signing? Sure it’s great to get the street racers to the track and off the street, we’re all for that. But isn’t it many times just jumping on the street racing bandwagon to fill the stands, to make a buck? How many of us will argue that our favorite street racing show is only fictional, that it’s only staged, that only an idiot would street race in real life, completely ignoring that in the minds of idiots, shows like that just popularize the bad boy image of street racing and get more of them to try it? How many of us will ignore that every time we promote street racing in any way, shape or form, we have little right to be angry at those who would call these tragic events as ‘drag racing’? I think as long as we continue to see ourselves as drag racers vs. street racers, and continue to argue that it’s not our fault, it’s the ‘other guy’ and not take responsibility that we too often turn a blind eye to our friends when they promote street racing, when we allow our drag magazines, TV networks, web publications and even some tracks to promote street racing in one way or another, then we as drag racers are part of the problem. The defense of Sportsman drag racing, of responsible racers who would never endanger innocent lives on public streets, should not be limited to just blaming those who were involved in a street racing crash and/or fatality, we need to look around us in our own ranks in our own industry, and see what we can do to not spread, not popularize street racing in any way. We need to make street racing unpopular amongst ourselves first. Because until we do that, until we really distance ourselves from ‘street racing’, those who are not into the sport of drag racing will never understand the difference, and you can’t blame them.

    1. Mark F.

      If I jumped in front of a bus, would you follow…??
      by your post… I guess you would, or think others would..

      How about we top blaming entertainment media movies/tv/etc.. for people being stupid..
      How about we call a spade a spade.. and the jackwagon that races on the street.. are using their free will to break the law..

      instead of blaming entertainment media’s or forums that might post a video of people doing stupid acts,, or tracks,, having street nights…….

      How about we go back to a little thing called personal responsibility .. and blaming no one other than the dopes that make a choice to break the law, and do something they know is unlawful on public streets??
      is that to much to ask…..

  8. JimmyM

    I don’t think this has anything to do with street outlaws. This has way more to do with the Fast and Furious crowd and all the squirrels that race around the streets and freeways in their BMW’s, Hondas, and now Fiat Chargers that think they are all Vin Diesels behind the wheel. It the culture of drifting, doughnuts at intersections, being out of control, and high speed, because most of the imports have no horsepower, so they end up trying to outrun each other at high speed. These pukes are on the road every day, I see them rolling like pinballs on the freeway trying to pass each other in their Hondas with loud exhaust and primer paint. The fun part of the Fast and the Furious seems cool, but they forget what really happens at speed. Not a Hollywood crash, but instead a real crash with injuries and death.

    1. Mark F.

      How about we go back to a little thing called personal responsibility .. and blaming no one other than the dopes that make a choice to break the law, and do something they know is unlawful on public streets??
      is that to much to ask…..

  9. keezling

    Just like the gun control issue, except we have no 2nd amendment protecting us. Looks like I’ll see this happen twice in my lifetime and be directly affected by it. The writing is on the wall… Anyone who thinks movies and YouTube don’t influence people are stroking themselves.

    1. Mark F.

      Stroking themselves???

      Lack of knowing right and wrong.. has more to do with crap like this, and the lack of any fear of punishment…

      I’m sorry I can not believe that anyone that watches a you tube video or a movie or a t.v. show, or see’s a street race in person doesn’t understand that it is wrong. They know it, they just choose to disregard it..

      BRB I’m going to sue Sammy Hagar for writing I can’t drive 55.. because I got a ticket..
      see how stupid that sounds…

      It’s easier to blame everything else than look in the mirror and think to yourself that you knew it was wrong but did it anyways..

      There is not one person with a lic. to drice that doesn’t know speeding is unlawful and wrong..
      so your thinking, of what “influence” things like this.. is total b/s.

      You don’t even need common sense to know right from wrong..
      but you do need some to not try to point the finger at anything else other that the lack of caring if it’s wrong or not…
      THAT IS THE PROBLEM…..

  10. keezling

    Movie “Staying Alive” = Disco craze. “Staying Alive” = Cowboy Craze. At least hopefully no one got killed, maybe some dislocations…

  11. peewee

    This is an interesting read, all the comments and varying opinions on an all-too-familiar and recurring subject. And nobody’s wrong. Opinions and stances are just that, and there’s always three sides to every story- your side and my side and the truth.

    it only reminds me again, so long ago it had faded from my memory, a guy I unfortunately had to work with/around in the 80’s. He was stupid before he ever got a car. But he got a fast one and got into a wreck while street racing. They were doing it on the boulevard, unlimited access for storefronts and parking lots and such. And like in this discussed case the other driver kept going.

    He tested positive for cocaine after the crash, a lady pulled out of a parking lot in front of him when he was going an estimated 90 mph. She was killed. He lost a leg, his job and his freedom, and he went to prison for 20 years yelling it was the dead lady’s fault for pulling out in front of him while he was going 90 mph under the streetlights. Go figure.

  12. Mike g

    I see some comments here that really are off course. Since the second car came from the plant people have chosen to street race.
    Some of you want to blame a tv show lol that has got to be the stupidest thing I have heard in like the last hour….. It’s like blaming guns for shootings ….
    These 2 street racers made a choice to line up and race they also made the choice to continue when they hit traffic.. It’s their responsibility and only theirs to lift. Don’t blame a show for 2 dumbasses . Don’t jump on the PC bandwagon it’s about personal responsibility and only that. I’ve street raced for 35 years and I have never had a wreck but I’m smart enough to lift ..

  13. bangshift daily

    its just like guns, when dumb (unstable people) go on shooting sprees they want to ban them all, same here ban all racing!

    condolences for the families of victims that part of it really is a shame

  14. Jay Bree

    The clowns who did this can rot in hell. Prayers for the families who lost loved ones to fools.

    However….

    The indignation is pretty high here. Is there anyone reading this who hasn’t punched it from a stop light and wound their ride up past the speed limit? Maybe even with another car in the adjacent lane.

    Then of course there’s Bangshift videos that show street activity , burnouts on the highway, etc.

    What a lot of us do is illegal from time to time. The difference is that most of us choose to do it in a much more appropriate time and place than the 5 freeway in traffic in LA.

  15. Phillip

    “Is there anyone reading this who hasn’t punched it from a stop light and wound their ride up past the speed limit? Maybe even with another car in the adjacent lane”

    Yeah, sure. Long time ago. BUT ONLY WHEN THE COAST WAS CLEAR (i.e., no cars around) and NOT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.

  16. cyclone03

    Did the other car know it was a race?
    Did the 2 cars STOP and face off drag race style?
    I ask these seemingly dumb questions because ,and I know we have all seen it, a car rolling along at 80 or so,BTW not all that unlikely on IH 5 over night,slicing threw traffic is not uncommon. Then add another guy who A: just thinks “not today”(road rage) , B:looks like fun I’ll tag along,or C: time for me to lead.

    I look at the phase ,or word, RACING to have some type of prize for winning,and some type of agreement between the competitors before the start. Unless I missed it did these two set up a race or just come upon each other while rolling along? Road Rage or just slicing through traffic, speeding?

    I know the guy who was caught said they were “racing” but really,was it a race?

  17. russell

    Racing on the street is illegal. period. Contests of acceleration, whatever you want to call it, its illegal, and has zero place on a public highway, zero. Why? people get killed that much is obvious. There is no justification what sever to put the motoring public in that kind of danger. Sadly I think reality TV shows promote certain behaviors that the weak minded among us unwittingly glom onto.. the producers can place all the disclaimers they want, whatever it takes to legally “distance” themselves from the monsters they create, but make no mistake they proudly thump their chests at the money they make for the networks and are a-ok with that. The lifestyles or activities portrayed in reality TV shows trickles down making their way into the real world where again, folks can die. As with these two throttle jockeys they made choices and choices has consequences. That would be my advice also to Rob B. in comments above– “I have been street racing for 35 years” never had a wreck been too smart etc. Choices Sir have consequences yet to be paid. I hope you choose wisely.

  18. Lynn Minthorne

    So sad for the unnecessary losses.. If the challenger hit the front wheels of the truck It would be all over for the truck– No control.. The Charger driver should go visit an out of state relative !!! As the laws are written he is just as guilty as the person that crashed resulting in the death of 4 innocent people. Why should he go to jail because another person caused the accident..

  19. Lynn Minthorne

    Oh and Dealio was stupid for admitting he was street racing.. He should have been talking to a lawyer… The consequences of this accident will affect his whole life and his children ?? if he has any…

  20. BigBlockWagon

    This is a terrible tragedy that could have, & should have been prevented! The only thing good that I can say is at least west coast media actually calls it for what it is… STREET RACING & not drag racing! Here in Massachusetts all too often when a similar accident occurs they tend to call it DRAG RACING! Which really pisses me off!

    As far as TV shows go I also enjoy watching street racing reality shows but some people can’t distinguish between TV shows & reality TV just like watching pro-wrestling shows! Sad but true. Whats worse is that because someone didn’t think or just didn’t care and now the family’s & loved ones will suffer & pay the ultimate price by losing family members! Just say’in…

  21. jerry z

    This is a problem that will never go away. You have 2 people that want to race, either on the track or public road, they will know the consequences.

  22. Jav343

    I raced a few times in Denver when the coast was clear, got the much deserved ticket and was on the edge of loosing my license, I decided maybe I should shoot it out at Bandemere, It’s not too hard to figure out. The aforementioned AssHats should take some quality family time with Bubba in his cell and not drive again as a condition of their parole. I’m sick of these morons giving black eyes to our hobby.

  23. ANGRYJOE

    Came here to see posts of people who still believe that street racing is okay and these guys were just idiots…..Was not disappointed.

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