West Frankfort man charged with hit-and-run

WEST FRANKFORT —A 25-year-old West Frankfort man is facing three felony charges after an alleged hit-and-run Sunday night in West Frankfort.

James M. Lenzie

James M. Lenzie was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless conduct, a single count of aggravated battery and two counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.  The reckless conduct charge is a Class 4 felony while the aggravated battery is a Class 3 felony.

According to the police report West Frankfort police responded to a 911 call at 7:17 p.m. in reference to a hit-and-run accident on the 200 block of East Lindell Street.  The victims were identified as two female pedestrians and the initial report was that the driver had fled the scene.

The investigation by local law enforcement identified the victims as Anita K. Austin, 53, and Anita J. Ausec, 37, both of West Frankfort.  The women identified Lenzie as the driver of the vehicle that hit them.  According to the police report the women were at the residence on East Lindell waiting to meet with Lenzie who was bringing property that allegedly belonged to a former roommate.  When Lenzie arrived he refused to turn over the property and a fracas ensued.  Lenzie reportedly retrieved an axe from his vehicle and threatened to kill the former roommate and then struck the individual in the face.  He then reportedly struck Austin and Ausec with his vehicle and then put his car in reverse and struck Austin a second time before fleeing the scene.

Both women were transported by ambulance to Herrin Hospital with what was described as non-life-threatening injuries.  Lenzie was arrested a short time later that same evening at a West Frankfort residence.