Illinois truck driver charged with felony after hit-and-run death of Joplin eight-year-old free on bond

The Illinois truck driver charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the
September 27 death of Destiny Chambers, 8, Joplin, a third grader at Soaring Heights Elementary School, is free on bond.

Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate Lance Lee, 49, DeKalb, posted a $10,000 surety bond October 11.

Initially, Lee's bond had been set at $10,000 cash only, but Judge Joseph Hensley reduced it during an October 10 hearing. Hensley's ruling indicated Lee that only $500 in cash would have to be posted.


In his ruling, Hensley indicated he did not believe Lee would be a flight risk and that he had no previous criminal record. He noted the felony charge against Lee did not include any allegations of alcohol or drug use while he was driving.

Hensley imposed the following conditions:

1) Defendant will have no direct or indirect contact or communication in any manner or medium with any of the alleged victim's family in this case;

2) Defendant will reside in DeKalb, Illinois, and may not return to Jasper County, Missouri except for future court appearances;

3) Defendant shall not possess or consume alcohol while on bond. Failure to adhere to any of these special conditions will result in an immediate revocation of Defendant's bond.

The probable cause statement alleges Lee struck the girl then continued driving until he reached Strafford.

At first, Lee told the Highway Patrol he thought he hit a deer on I-44, but he changed his story, admitted being on Newman Road and said he thought he hit a mailbox. Lee said he told his employer that he hit a deer because he could have been charged with hitting a mailbox.