A Sunland man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge stemming from the death of a woman who crashed her car as the two were allegedly involved in a street race.
Luis Tamayo Tapia, 28, is due back in a San Fernando courtroom Jan. 13.
He is charged in connection with the Oct. 24 death of 38-year-old Claudia Perez, who died when her 2011 Infiniti struck a tree during the alleged street race in the 10100 block of Sunset Boulevard.
Tapia is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
If convicted of the murder charge, he faces up to 15 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
— City News Service