An 18-year-old man from Chicago has been charged with stealing a car and causing a crash in Highland Park on Sunday that killed two passengers, police said.
Leonard A. Lemons, of the 5300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, has been identified as the driver of a car that crashed into a tree at Oakwood Avenue and Walnut Street, according to Highland Park police.
Lemons has been charged with two counts of aggravated DUI, two counts of reckless homicide and one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, police said.
One victim, who died at the scene of multiple traumatic injuries, has been identified as Joseph Belcher, 16, of Chicago, according to the Lake County coroner’s office. The other victim, a male, was airlifted to Evanston Hospital and pronounced dead. He has not been identified, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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Highland Park police investigators said officers encountered Lemons at the Central Train Station while investigating the crash, which occurred about 4:30 a.m. Police said the vehicle was going fast when it plowed into the tree.
The vehicle involved was reported stolen Friday to Chicago police, police said.
Officials are asking anyone with questions or information regarding the deceased to contact the Lake County coroner’s office or the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Susan Berger is a freelance reporter.