Shorewood Motorcyclist Charged in Plainfield Crash That Killed 2

Photo credit: Todd Sherman/Network Video Productions. Caption: Fitzpatrick’s motorcycle sits on the side of the road, about 800 feet from where the crash occurred.

A motorcyclist involved in an April 2015 crash that left two people dead has been charged with reckless driving.

Michael A. Bushar, 29, of the 500 block of Edgewood Dr. in Shorewood, was charged after a nearly year-long investigation. In addition to the reckless driving charge, Bushar was also charged with driving 35 mph over the speed limit, operating an uninsured vehicle and a violation of a driver’s license classification.

Sign up for the Patch newsletter

Bail for Bushar was set at $15,000 with 10 percent to apply.

The crash occurred on Illinois Route 59 at Lockport Street April 28, 2015. According to police, 27-year-old Sean Fitzpatrick was traveling northbound on a 2007 Yamaha on Route 59 when he hit a pedestrian near the intersection of Lockport Street.

The pedestrian, identified as Randal Lambert, 56, of the 24200 block on Lockport Street in Plainfield, was pronounced dead at the scene. Fitzpatrick was pronounced dead at 12:39 a.m. April 28, 2015.

Fitzpatrick was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. Police believe Bushar was with Fitzpatrick at the time.

Plainfield Police Sergeant Mike Fisher said that while both motorcyclists were traveling at a high rate of speed, there's no indication they were actually street racing.

"The initial reports were that two motorcycles were traveling at high rates of speed," Fisher told Patch.

Fisher said one of the reasons for the investigation taking nearly a year to complete was the "sheer volume and size of debris and parts and evidence in the road."

On top of that, it was a unique case, according to Fisher, because there was another vehicle involved that wasn't on scene.

"Our investigators obviously took time to develop leads and follow up and identify the subject and conduct interviews and develop what his actual participation was so they could put together an entire picture," Fisher said, adding that you need to have a complete story when you submit it to the state's attorney's office for review.

Police had been interviewing a second motorcyclist since shortly after the crash happened. Fisher said Bushar was that motorcyclist.