A Santa Clarita woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges for allegedly driving the wrong-way in a stolen pickup truck that crashed into four vehicles on the 210 Freeway in Claremont, leaving one man dead and several others injured.
Nicole Danielle Thibault, 28, could face up to 57 years to life in state prison if convicted of one count each of murder and grand theft and six counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to the CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 210 in Claremont, Calif., Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. Several others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash after the driver of an allegedly stolen pickup truck sped the wrong way on the Southern California freeway. (Rachel Luna/Los Angeles Daily News via AP)
The California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal crash on the 210 Freeway in Claremont, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. Several others were injured in the multi-vehicle crash after the driver of an allegedly stolen pickup sped the wrong way on the freeway. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol diverts traffic as investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The 2011 pickup truck was reported to have been taken about 3:25 p.m. that day — with the owner’s 2-year-old son inside the vehicle — near a 7- Eleven store on Highland Avenue and H Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. The youngster was subsequently dropped off at Temple Street and H Street.
About 3:45 that afternoon, CHP dispatchers “received numerous calls of a wrong-way driver traveling westbound on the eastbound lanes of SR-210, within the center median shoulder,” according to the agency.
“Responding CHP units attempted to get into position; however, a pursuit was never initiated. As the Ford F-150 continued traveling (the) wrong way within the center median of SR-210, for unknown reasons it veered into incoming traffic and collided with four vehicles … east of Mills Avenue in the city of Claremont,” according to a CHP statement. “It is unclear where the Ford F-150 entered the freeway and why the suspect was driving (the) wrong way.”
All eastbound lanes were closed for several hours while an investigation was conducted.
Thibault — who was among those injured in the crash — was arrested Feb. 1 by the CHP and remains jailed in lieu of $8 million bail, according to jail records.
She is due back in a Pomona courtroom May 3.
Please accept our sincerest condolences. As you navigate this deeply difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with you, the victims and their loved ones who died in roadway tragedies.
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