Wisconsin man charged in fatal crash near Antioch extradited to Lake County

A 24-year-old Wisconsin man was extradited to face charges in Lake County for his part in a crash that killed an Antioch man and injured his wife and daughter.

Joshua A. Bailey of Wisconsin was taken from Kenosha County jail in Wisconsin to Lake County jail in Waukegan on March 31, Lt. Chris Covelli of the Lake County sheriff's office said Monday. Bailey posted $10,000 cash, 10% of his $100,000 bond, on April 2 and is now out of jail as his trial works its way through the Lake County court system.

Bailey is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving, both class 3 felonies, and one count of aggravated street racing, a class 4 felony. The charges stem from an October crash in unincorporated Lake County near Antioch that killed William Stephens, 39.

The crash happened at about 4 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2020, when a Dodge Caliber driven by Bailey and a Ford Taurus driven by Stephens were headed north on a stretch of Route 45 north of Route 173, according to Covelli.

Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, investigators believe Stephens attempted to pass Bailey, but Bailey swerved toward Stephens to prevent him from passing, Covelli said. As a result, Stephens drove onto the gravel shoulder, lost control of his car and struck Bailey's Dodge. Stephens' vehicle then rolled and he was ejected from the car, according to Covelli.

Stephens and the two passengers in his car, his 36-year-old wife and 6-year-old daughter, were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Stephens died from his injuries.

The woman and girl suffered nonlife-threatening injuries in the crash. Covelli said Monday both were discharged from the hospital shortly after the crash.

Bailey was taken to St. Catherine's Hospital in Kenosha with nonlife-threatening injuries.

The charges against Bailey were approved in mid-March. He was arrested by Wisconsin authorities and jailed shortly thereafter, according to authorities.

Bailey is due back in court Tuesday morning.