Disabled man slashed across face in apparent road rage attack in New Lenox

NEW LENOX, Ill. (WLS) -- A disabled man was slashed across the face in a violent case of apparent road rage in the southwest suburbs.

"I saw blood all over the ground, it was pouring out of me," said Zachary Monahan.

Monahan said he was attacked outside a New Lenox Starbucks off of Lincoln Highway last week. He had just pulled into the drive-thru on his way to work when he noticed a dark-colored Honda CRV follow him in, then speed in front of him and block his path forcing him to hit the brakes.

"He got out of his car. He didn't really say anything and I walked towards him. He punched me in the chest," Monahan said.

Monahan - who is paralyzed on the left side of his body following a stroke several years ago - tried to hit back. But before he knew it, the attacker produced a knife and cut straight through his facial artery.

"I heard a woman yell 'Get in the car!' and they took off," he said.

"The cut went up from his lip all the way to his ear and it if would have been just below the jawline the great likelihood is he wouldn't have survived that injury," said New Lenox Police Chief Bob Sterba.

It took over 100 stitches to sew Monahan up at Loyola Hospital, where he had to be transferred for care.

New Lenox police are still looking for the attacker. According to the description provided by Monahan, the suspect is a white or Hispanic male in his late 20's or early 30's, about 5'10" with a stocky build, and a long, dark pony tail. He was driving a dark blue or black older model Honda CRV.

"I just hope the guy's caught and I would really like to know what provoked this," Monahan said.

New Lenox police are asking anyone who may have been there that day or who recognizes the suspect's description to contact detectives.