118 MPH Reckless Driver In Joliet Crashed Into 3 Vehicles: Cops

JOLIET, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has charged a 51-year-old man from Yorkville with aggravated reckless driving in connection with a Dec. 9 crash along Joliet's South Chicago Street that left three people injured. One of the several vehicles damaged Jason L. Leslie's reckless conduct was a hearse, Joliet police determined.

Will County Judge Ted Jarz has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Jason L. Leslie, who lives in the 7600 block of Bentgrass Circle in Kendall County.

The criminal complaint from Joliet Police Officer Bob Mau Jr. states that Leslie was driving his 2020 Ford Mustang 118 mph "into oncoming traffic and crashed into three vehicles." The crash happened as Leslie was driving northbound on Route 53, which is South Chicago Street, from Mills Road when he lost control and swerved into the oncoming lanes, Joliet police said in December.

The Yorkville man has been charged with two counts of aggravated reckless driving, four counts of reckless driving and one count of aggravated speeding.

Because of his reckless driving, Leslie crashed into a 2019 Kia Optima, a 2015 Honda Pilot and a 2018 GMC Acadia, the criminal complaint states.

According to prosecutors in Will County, Leslie was driving 118 mph along Chicago Street and when he veered into oncoming traffic, the driver of a 2010 Cadillac CTS was forced "to suddenly stop, causing another vehicle to crash into the rear of it."

Leslie's reckless driving at 118 mph also "caused a 2006 Cadillac hearse ... to crash into another vehicle," the complaint stated.

The Will County judge has set bail at $50,000 for Leslie. As of Monday afternoon, the 51-year-old Yorkville had not been taken into custody by Joliet police.

To read Joliet Patch's initial coverage of the crash involving the hearse, go here.