Reckless Homicide Charges for Teen in Sunday Morning's Fatal Crash

One teenager killed in an early Sunday morning crash in Highland Park has been identified while an 18-year-old Chicago man is facing charges in relation to his death.

Joseph Belcher, 19, of Chicago was found to have died of multiple traumatic injuries from a car striking a fixed object by the Lake County Coroner, the Highland Park News reports.

Joseph was a passenger in a car reported stolen in Chicago around 4:30 a.m. when it crashed into a tree near Oakwood Avenue and Walnut Street in Highland Park. The vehicle was “traveling at a high rate of speed” and was being pursued by law enforcement at the time of the crash. Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene 15 minutes after the crash.

Another person who was airlifted to Evanston Hospital was later pronounced dead. His identity has not been released.

According to a Highland Park police report, Leonard A. Lemons, 18, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence involving an accident causing death and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle following the incident.

Lemons was transported to Lake County bond court on Monday.