California Highway Patrol officials said they believe illegal racing is behind a deadly early morning crash on the 5 Freeway that left a 52-year-old UPS driver dead, and killed two others, Saturday in the city of Commerce.
The brother of the Mira Loma man identified him as Scott Treadway, and broke down in tears as he described his younger brother.
"He'd come and help you any time you needed it. He was always there for you," Dana Treadway said through tears. "We'll miss him."
Dana said his brother loved his family, and worked hard rising up the ranks at a job he took pride in. He worked for UPS for 30 years, he said.
On Saturday just after midnight, two Dodge cars believed to be street racing on the southbound 5 Freeway were traveling 90 mph when one of the drivers attempted to pass a slower-moving vehicle, and hit the UPS truck.
The UPS truck, with Treadway behind the wheel, hit the center divider and went airborne before landing in northbound lanes on a Nissan, shearing off the roof. The UPS truck also hit a Ford Explorer before the truck burst into flames.
It's believed that the four young adults inside the Nissan were driving home from Disneyland. Two died on scene the other two were hospitalized with critical injuries.
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Images of the crash were caught on cellphone video as witnesses watched in horror.
"I see the UPS truck go up in air, and over center divider," Javier Gonzalez, witness, said.
The UPS truck landed in front of Gonzalez, crushing his Chevy Blazer in northbound lanes.
"I just locked my brakes. I plowed into truck, and everything burst into flames," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez escaped, but Treadway did not.
"This was caused by two people who were illegally street racing," Sgt. Luis Mendoza, CHP East LA, said.
CHP officials said one of the cars racing on 5 Freeway was driven by 35-year-old Dealio Lockhart of Whittier.
He was arrested and faces charges of vehicular manslaughter. The other driver believed to be street racing against Lockhart got away.
Dana, who had to say goodbye to his brother after the violent wreck, has a message for the driver at large.
"He's a coward who needs to fess up," he said.
The father of a 19-year-old killed in the crash was also speaking out Saturday night. His daughter, Michelle Littlefield, was inside the Nissan when the truck went airborne, and collided with her car.
The driver was believed to be driving a dark-colored Dodge Charger.
Southbound lanes on the 5 Freeway had reopened at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, and northbound lanes were expected to reopen at midnight, officials said.
