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Ex-firefighter to stand trial in fatal DUI crash

Posted at 4:29 PM, Jun 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-07 19:23:19-04

MILWAUKEE -  A former Milwaukee firefighter will stand trial in a drunk driving crash that killed two people.  Joshua Larson waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday in the deadly crash after the Brewers' home opener.  The accident took the lives of an Uber driver and his passenger.

Joshua Larson pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.  Witnesses had reported seeing the former firefighter speeding down 60th Street prior to the crash.  His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, according to reports.

"Today was the first opportunity that we've had to get the police reports in the case so obviously, it allows us to go through all the evidence at this point in time and then we'll be at a better position to figure out where the case is going," said Julius Kim, defense attorney.

Larson was mostly silent in court, giving one word answers to the judge.

The April 4 crash killed Wendell Johnson, a Chicago man in town for business, and Uber driver Yoruba Sly-Lundasi.  Lundasi's family left court, after learning the trial would move forward.

Outside the courtroom, we heard an explanation as to why Larson waived the preliminary hearing.

It's not always necessary and really, it's just an opportunity for the state to demonstrate to the court that there's merit to the case and I think that we acknowledge that there is," said Kim.

Larson remains a free man tonight while awaiting trial. He's out on a $10,000 signature bond.