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A Brookfield man who was allegedly driving drunk when he crashed his motorcycle, killing his female passenger, has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence.


James Duddleston II, 26, appeared at a hearing at the Bridgeview courthouse on Monday, where Judge Joan O’Brien set his bond at $250,000. Duddleston posted bond and awaits an Oct. 6 court date.


According to Lyons police, Duddleston was driving a motorcycle south on First Avenue near Salt Creek with 24-year-old Lissette Loncola, of Lyons, in back of him as a passenger on Sept. 4 at about 4:20 a.m.


A truck driver who was also southbound on the road reportedly told police that he saw a white light approaching quickly in his rearview mirror. A motorcycle sped by in the left lane going, the truck driver estimated, 90 miles per hour, and quickly merged back right.


There the motorcycle barreled into the back of a Cadillac with six occupants inside. Duddleston reportedly flew over the handlebars of the motorcycle through the rear windshield of the car, where one passenger was injured by the impact.


Loncola was also thrown from the motorcycle and landed in the southbound lanes of

First Avenue
. According to a spokesman from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Loncola died of head injuries sustained in the crash. She was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at on Sept. 4.


According to Lyons police, neither Duddleston nor Loncola was wearing a helmet. In addition, police said, Duddleston’s Honda motorcycle had been modified by removing the rear pegs and seat. That made the vehicle a one-person racing bike, said Detective David DeLeshe.


“She had no business being on it,” he said.


Duddleston was taken to Loyola University Medical Center where he was treated for undisclosed injuries and released to police custody on Sept. 10. The Cook County State‘s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges against him the following day, police said.

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