COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A West Pullman driver who fatally struck a pedestrian Tuesday night kept driving, parked the car and went to a nearby barbecue, prosecutors alleged Monday.
Rashaad Jackson, 20, was behind the wheel of his sister's Nissan Altima about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday as he followed another car to a barbecue near 66th and Bishop streets, according to police and prosecutors.
The first car blew through a light in the 6400 block of South Ashland Avenue, prosecutors said, and slammed on its brakes when the driver spotted a pedestrian crossing the road.
Jackson, who doesn't have a driver's license, swerved around the braking car and hit the pedestrian head-on — sending the victim flying through the air, Assistant State's Attorney Barry Quinn said during a bond hearing Monday.
The impact woke up a passenger in Jackson's car, who'd been sleeping in the front passenger seat, Quinn said. The man noticed severe damage to the front window and found pieces of glass in his lap; he heard Jackson saying "Oh, my God. Oh, my God," Quinn added.
Jackson dumped the car in the 6500 block of South Laflin Avenue and walked to the barbecue, according to Quinn.
Police would later find blood and human tissue in the car's windshield, and match the license plates to Jackson's sister, prosecutors said. Several witnesses identified Jackson as the driver and he was arrested Friday afternoon, according to an arrest report.
The victim, 48-year-old Leon Radcliff of suburban Forest Park, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center after the crash, police and prosecutors said. He was pronounced dead at 10:38 p.m. that evening.
Jackson, of the 11600 block of South Racine Avenue, was charged with reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.
Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. on Monday ordered him held in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Jackson's attorney said Jackson worked as a dispatcher and provided for his sister, cousin and 1-year-old daughter. Jackson didn't have any felony convictions on his record, the attorney added, and panicked after the crash.
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