Bond lowered for Crystal Lake driver in crash which killed 4

A Kane County Judge this morning reduced the bond from $250,000 to $75,000 for a 24-year-old Crystal Lake man accuse of killing four of his friends while driving high on marijuana.

If convicted, Fakir M. Jaffrie faces six to 28 years in prison and deportation for the Sept. 8 crash on Dietrich Road between Brier Hill Road and Route 20 west of Huntley.

Ayush Joshi, a 20-year-old from Hoffman Estates and 2005 graduate of Conant High School, and Zohair Husain, an 18-year-old from Huntley who graduated from Huntley High School earlier this year, died at the scene.

Kumail Husain, 20, of Algonquin and Henry Onwualu, 19, of Huntley died later from their injuries.

Prosecutors say Jaffrie's car was going so fast it caught air on a hill before hitting a tree.

If Jaffrie is released, he will be on electronic home monitoring. He will only be allowed to leave his parents' home in Algonquin to work at his father's vitamin store, visit the doctor and meet with David Camic, his defense attorney.

If was not immediately clear whether Jaffrie would be able to post bond. Camic said last week that Jaffrie's parents and family members pooled their resources for about $40,000. He said they would have to make more phone calls now to almost double that amount.

Jaffrie, who appeared in court in a wheelchair and white body brace, also is subject to random blood and alcohol tests and may not leave the state.

"All the conditions are very reasonable," Camic said.

Jaffrie also surrendered his passport and green card. Jaffrie's parents volunteered to surrender their passports, too, but Judge Patricia Golden said that was not necessary.

First Assistant State's Attorney Clint Hull had argued that Jaffrie has family members living in Pakistan and he is a risk to flee.

Hull said tests of Jaffrie's blood at the state lab and an Indianapolis lab showed the presence of marijuana and that he used it about six hours before the crash.

Camic has argued the chemicals were metabolites of the drug. He also pointed to a Kane County Sheriff's office report that stated Jaffrie had "no apparent or obvious signs of intoxication."

Jaffrie is next due in court on Nov. 8.