Reckless Driving, Shots Fired: 2 Men Charged After Hit-and-Run Crash Seriously Injuries 9-Year-Old Boy

Two men face multiple charges after a pair of hit-and-run crashes in a Chicago suburb left a 9-year-old boy seriously injured.

Police were called just before 5 p.m. on Saturday for a crash in Green Oaks, LakeMcHenryScanner.com reported, and learned that a silver pickup truck had hit the vehicle and then fled the scene.

The 9-year-old boy suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He is expected to survive.

Chris Parthe and Paul Zawojski/Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Investigators then learned that the same truck had been involved in another hit-and run earlier in Waukegan. While fleeing from that initial crash, the truck’s driver — identified as 29-year-old Paul Zawojski — passed another vehicle and nearly forced it off the road. As the truck sped by, its passenger — identified as 31-year-old Chase Parthe — brandished a handgun and fired shots, although it wasn’t clear if he aimed.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office broadcast a description of the truck and the suspects, and a Highland Park police officer spotted the vehicle and stopped it, holding Zawojski and Parthe at the scene until deputies arrived.

Deputies recovered a 9mm firearm and multiple narcotics inside the truck.

Parthe was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, and multiple drug charges. Zawojski faces drug and alcohol charges along with failure to report a crash causing injury and numerous traffic violations.

Both men made a first appearance Sunday morning and will appear for a detention hearing on Monday.

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[Featured image: Chris Parthe and Paul Zawojski/Lake County Sheriff’s Office]