Former St. Michael Parish pastor told police he was 'blacked out' at time of deadly Orland Park hit-and-run, prosecutors say
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- The driver suspected of a deadly Orland Park hit-and-run is a retired pastor who attended the same Christmas party as his victims, according to police.
Paul Burak, 73, of Palos Heights is charged in connection to a crash that killed a woman and injured another Wednesday night.
Investigators said Burak was driving drunk when he fatally struck 61-year-old Margaret "Rone" Leja and injured Liz Kostek near a parking lot at Orland Square Mall, then kept on driving.
According to prosecutors, the former priest told police he didn't know he had hit anyone because he was blacked out and drunk after drinking a Manhattan cocktail and a glass of wine.
Burak is charged with aggravated DUI causing death, aggravated DUI causing bodily harm, failure to report an accident causing death and failure to report an accident causing injury.
"He never thought it was a person and said he did stop after he hit something and then he then gunned the car," said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy.
Moments before the deadly crash, Burak was at the St. Michael's Parish Christmas party with both victims - who were teachers at St. Michael's School.
"The defendant said that he thinks he had too much to drink because he blacked out and that sometimes when he drinks too much he blacks out," Murphy said.
The 73-year-old said he suffers from Parkinson's disease and glaucoma. He said he had no idea that he ran anyone over.
"He thought he hit the curb last night and remembers that he heard a noise," Murphy said.
During bond court Saturday, a Cook County judge allowed Burak to pay a $10,000 d-bond and be released on probation.
Police said they detained Burak Thursday but didn't announce having a suspect until late Friday. Police Chief Tim McCarthy said his team needed to work through their investigation before sharing such an update.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has confirmed Burak's affiliation with the church in a statement, referring to him as "the retired pastor of St. Michael Parish in Orland Park, Fr. Paul Burak."
WATCH: Orland Park police give update on hit-and-run investigation
Church officials also said they are cooperating with police and added, in part, "As a community we continue to grieve the loss of Ms. Leja and the injury to Mrs. Kosteck. We again offer our heartfelt condolences, support and sympathy to their families and are keeping them and all affected by this tragedy in our prayers."
The archdiocese told ABC7 Burak retired on July 1, 2018. Now, his former parish grieves, with blue ribbons surrounding the church property in honor of Leja.
"We are shocked to learn of the recent charges placed against our former Pastor, Fr. Paul Burak, in the hit-and-run incident involving the death of Ms. Leja and injury of Mrs. Kosteck," St. Michael Parish said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their families at this time."
The parish thanked the archdiocese, local schools and the community for their support and said counselors would be at school Monday.
Contact Orland Park Police at 708-349-4111 or crimetips@orlandpark.org with any information on the incident.
