The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday circulated a photo of an 18-year-old alleged street racer accused in a hit-and-run crash in Palmdale that left two people dead and sought the public’s help to locate him.
Jamaal Tyree Madden was allegedly behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger that was traveling westbound at more than 100 mph when it slammed into a Toyota Corolla on Rancho Vista Boulevard near 11th Street West, near the Antelope Valley Mall, at about 12:30 a.m. on June 9.
The driver of the Corolla subsequently lost control of the car, which crashed into a light pole, rolled over and burst into flames. The driver was ejected, while his passenger remained trapped inside.
Lesther Deleon, 37, and his passenger, Spechelle Pope, 28, were both pronounced dead at the scene, where a makeshift memorial was created. Relatives described Pope as a mother of five and Deleon as a Lyft driver who was giving her a ride home from a store.
Madden allegedly abandoned the Challenger following the crash and left the scene in another vehicle described by witnesses a dark blue Infiniti.
Madden is described as Black, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos, including a crown on the front of his neck, unspecified writing above his left eye and a tattoo on the left side of his neck extending up the front of his left ear, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Anyone with information on the crash or Madden’s whereabouts was asked to contact Detective Sherman at 661-272-2609. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.