Woman Charged in Car Crash That Killed 7-Year-Old Son

A woman who was allegedly high on drugs when she crashed her car, killing her 7-year-old son, was charged with second-degree murder Monday, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said.

Lynn Margie Julian, 30, also was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, felony child endangerment and possession of methamphetamines. If convicted of murder, she faces a maximum 15 years to life in state prison.

The North Hollywood woman allegedly drove her 1984 Toyota Supra into a parked big rig in the 4900 block of Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood on July 5.

Her son, Tyler Chernoff, was in the front passenger seat. He had been wearing a seat belt but died after suffering massive head injuries.

Julian was charged with murder because there was implied malice in her conduct, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond, who filed the case.

“Implied malice means that you deliberately performed an act with knowledge or conscious disregard for human life,” Diamond said. “There’s evidence that she smoked crystal methamphetamine . . . several hours before the collision.”

Julian had previous entanglements with the law. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 1993, and was sentenced to a year’s probation after the charge was reduced to aiding and abetting a speed contest, according to court documents. Her driver’s license was suspended at least twice, once in 1991 and again in 1998. A 1995 case involving a drug possession charge is still pending.

Julian, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, will be arraigned today in Van Nuys Superior Court.