A 26-year-old North Hollywood man was charged with murder Tuesday in the death of a woman who fell out of a moving vehicle Thursday.

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Ricardo Jimenez is being arraigned at Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando, said Deputy District Attorney Carolyn McNary.

There was an allegation that a knife was used in the offense, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim, who is currently identified as Maria J., was seen falling from a vehicle onto the 210 freeway in Sylmar, then being hit by numerous cars.

All lanes on the I-5 to the eastbound side of the 210 freeway were closed for several hours Thursday morning during the investigation.

If convicted as charged, Jimenez faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison.

A witness on the freeway had seen a car almost drive into the center divider just before a woman fell out of the vehicle, according to initial reports.

The case was suspected to be a homicide because the vehicle did not stop once the woman had fallen out of the car, said Lt. Paul Vernon of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The defendant and the victim were in a relationship, according to a statement from the prosecutor.

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating the case.

Jimenez is being held in lieu of more than $1 million bail.

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