George Gary Sanchez, 49, and Terry Lamar Easter, 50, were booked on suspicion of murder and vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash; three others were arrested and later released

Five people were arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed two teenage best friends in California.

George Gary Sanchez, 49, and Terry Lamar Easter, 50, are accused of driving at “extremely high speeds” through a residential neighborhood in Victorville on Aug. 14 before both of their vehicles collided with the car carrying the girls, according to a press release shared by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Sanchez, who was believed to be driving a Dodge Charger, was arrested shortly after the crash, while Easter, who was allegedly behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro that fled the scene, surrendered to police on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after authorities conducted a multi-day search for him, per the release.

Authorities have not released the girls’ names, but their families have identified them as Maddalyn Dailey, 17, and Isabell DeLang, 16.

Maddalyn’s father, Dustin Dailey, previously told KTLA that the teenagers were “inseparable,” adding that they had been friends since elementary school and studied together at Sultana High School.

According to Dailey, his daughter was giving Isabell a ride home and intended to head back for dinner with her family when the crash occurred. He told the outlet he “automatically knew” what had happened when he heard the impact.

“I would do anything to have her back right now,” Dailey said, per the outlet.

Their loved ones wrote on their respective GoFundMe pages that the girls both had “so much life ahead” of them.

Amid the investigation, CHP also arrested three others on suspicion of being accessories: Ryan James Lewis, 45, of Victorville; Lukevy Shawntell Yates, 49, of Apple Valley; and Madge Wells, 74, of Apple Valley. According to the release, all three cooperated with investigators and were later released.

Sanchez, of Riverside, and Easter, of Apple Valley, have since been booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter with negligence, the CHP said.

It’s unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

“The apprehension of these suspects reflects the CHP’s commitment to pursuing justice,” said Chief Tariq Johnson, commander of the CHP Inland Division.

“While nothing can erase the devastating loss of two young lives, we hope these arrests bring some measure of comfort to their families and send a clear message that those responsible for senseless acts will be held accountable,” Johnson added.

Source: https://people.com/5-arrested-after-inseparable-teens-die-in-multi-vehicle-calif-car-crash-12071565