Waukegan police: Teen charged in drag-racing death

An 18-year-old Waukegan man was charged with reckless homicide and other felonies for striking and killing a teenager on a city road while drag racing, authorities said.

Mario R. Garcia, of the 100 block of Edison Court, remained at the Lake County jail Tuesday in lieu of a $200,000 bond.

Garcia also faces charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, aggravated street racing, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and no valid driver’s license, Waukegan Police Lt. Edward Fitzgerald said.

Jose Pimentel, 17, of the 1000 block of Grand Avenue in Waukegan, died at the scene when Garcia drove into him while drag racing with another teenager about 8:30 p.m. March 22, Fitzgerald said.

Garcia was driving a 1991 Acura Integra on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, just east of Waukegan Road, when he struck Pimentel, Fitzgerald said. At the time, Pimentel was on the street, walking with friend toward a bowling alley, police said.

Fitzgerald said Garcia removed the license plates from his car and fled the crash scene. He said someone picked up Garcia, who telephoned Waukegan police to report his Acura had been stolen.

Officers who received information about Garcia’s whereabouts seized him about two hours after he fled, Fitzgerald said.