A woman was charged with vehicular manslaughter Wednesday in connection to a fatal Sloan Canyon crash last year in Castaic.

The suspect’s name is not being released due to her being a minor at the time of the fatal crash on Sunday Aug. 8, 2021, on the 24800 block of Sloan Canyon Road in Castaic.

Prior to the crash, surveillance footage showed a Volkswagen driven by the suspect racing a Honda at a high-rate of speed, according to officials.

The Volkswagen lost control going around a corner and crashed into a tractor before flipping over and landing in a backyard on Sloan Canyon Road.

The crash claimed the life of Kayla Payan, a 17-year-old resident from Castaic.

Two other passengers in the Volkswagen were transported to the hospital, and survived.

Traffic investigators conducted several months of investigating before making an arrest of the driver who killed Payan in the crash.

“The female driver’s case was submitted to Sylmar Juvenile Court for Vehicular Manslaughter,” said Sgt. David Shoemaker, with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Traffic Office.

The driver was booked into the SCV Sheriff’s Station Wednesday for the charge and shortly later was released, according to Shoemaker.

Her next court date is scheduled for July 15th, according to officials.

“We have presented the same charge for the male driver of the second car to the San Fernando D.A.’s Office,” Shoemaker said. “They are reviewing the case.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.