A Lansing man hit and killed a pedestrian while driving drunk early Friday, prosecutors said Sunday.
Jaysen Maxie, 22, appeared in court on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI in connection with a fatal crash that prosecutors said killed Lonnie Graham in Lansing about 2 a.m. Friday. Cook County Judge James Brown set Maxie’s bond at $500,000 in a hearing Sunday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Maxie was driving home when he sped through a four-way stop at 178th Street and Oakley Avenue, hitting Graham and shattering his own minivan’s front windshield. Maxie proceeded to make a U-turn before getting out of the minivan. He was arrested at the scene.
At the time of the crash, Maxie was driving around 45 mph, more than 25 mph over the speed limit, prosecutors said. A breath test performed by authorities found Maxie had a blood-alcohol content of 0.149 percent, nearly twice the legal limit.
Maxie is on probation after pleading guilty in October to manufacturing or delivery of between 300 and 500 grams — between about 10 ounces and 17 ounces — of marijuana and possession of marijuana, according to court records. Maxie also has three active court cases in Cook County, including possession of marijuana and criminal destruction of property. He is expected to return to court on all of the cases Tuesday.
Maxie’s defense attorney, Dustin Smith, said his client is a high school graduate attending South Suburban College and working as a bartender and server a local restaurant. His parents sat silent in the courtroom gallery during the proceeding.
Smith declined to comment on behalf of Maxie and his relatives.
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