HEARING DELAYED IN FATAL CRASH ATTORNEY HINTS DEAL POSSIBLE.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

NEWHALL - A bail reduction hearing for Marcus Lellan was delayed Friday at the request of his defense attorney, James Blatt. The attorney also indicated his client is considering a plea agreement.

Lellan, the driver blamed for the deaths of four people in a high-speed crash, remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

``Mr. Lellan has a significant amount of responsibility - we might as well accept it now,'' Blatt said.

Lellan faces four counts of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of reckless driving in the Feb. 17 crash on Soledad Canyon Road. Three of Lellan's four passengers - fellow students at Canyon High School - were killed, along with a motorist in another car.

Witnesses said Lellan was traveling as fast as 90 mph on Soledad Canyon, that he drove in a bicycle lane to pass a car, lost control of the car and hit an oncoming vehicle, killing that driver.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Friday his defense attorney said in an interview there was a slight possibility his client would come to a plea agreement before the scheduled March 23 hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to take the case to trial.

The investigation into the crash continues, and officials await a final toxicology report on Lellan's blood drawn shortly after the crash.

Daniel Weber, the only other survivor of the deadly crash and a front passenger in Lellan's car, said Lellan was not under the influence of alcohol the night of the crash.

On Friday, investigators acknowledged a marijuana pipe apparently fell from Lellan's Acura when it flipped during the crash. It was not known who owned the pipe.

Blatt declined comment on that finding.

In court Friday, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney David Jacobs said he was opposed to a bail reduction that could have allowed Lellan's release, saying the 18-year-old poses a threat.

``I believe custody is the right place for him,'' Jacobs said.

In the courtroom, Lellan's mother, Gitte, and sister, Denise, listened intently in the front row as Jacobs urged Newhall Court Judge Allan Rosenfield to order Lellan to surrender his Danish passport and his driver's license if he were to be released.

Blatt said if his client is released on bail, prosecutors would be notified.

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Photo: (color) Marcus Lellan

Teen remains in custody