A man who was allegedly behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang that careened into a crowd of spectators during a Chatsworth street race in February, killing two people and seriously injuring a third, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.
Karen Balyan, 44, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered in court around 10 a.m., according to Los Angeles Police Department Detective Bill Bustos.
He was the third person arrested and charged in connection with the late February race.
Police said the Mustang's driver lost control and plowed into a crowd of spectators, killing Eric Siguenza, 26, of Los Angeles, and Wilson Thomas Wong, 50, of Torrance. A third person was seriously injured.
On Feb. 28, Henry Gevorgyan, 22, of Van Nuys, surrendered to authorities in the company of his attorney, with bail set at $2 million. He was released on Friday.
On March 3, Irael Valenzuela, 39, of Los Angeles, was arrested and bail was set at $2 million. He was released on bail March 11.
Valenzuela and Gevorgyan were ordered April 21 to stand trial on two counts of murder. They are due back in court June 11.
Balyan pleaded not guilty to double murder charges and was ordered to be held in lieu of $3 million bail while awaiting his next court appearance. At that June 22 proceeding, a judge is expected to schedule a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
All three defendants face potential life prison sentences if convicted.
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Bustos declined to specify what role each of the three suspects allegedly played in the race. However, a notice of an arrest warrant circulated by the LAPD stated that Balyan had been identified as the driver of the Mustang.
A lawsuit filed by Siguenza's parents last month alleged that Valenzuela was behind the wheel of a Nissan that was racing the Mustang, while Gevorgyan acted as the starter of the race.
Los Angeles police had initially said they believed Gevorgyan was driving the Mustang, which he owns. But his attorney, Kate Hardie, said her client was not driving the Mustang, and said video showed him standing on the street between the two vehicles at the starting line.
