A McHenry man has been charged with stealing a truck and recklessly crashing it while he had two children in the vehicle in Crystal Lake, court records show.
Christopher D. Blatzheim, 50, of McHenry, was charged with aggravated battery, child endangerment, theft, reckless driving, child restraint violation and failure to yield.
The Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 2:20 p.m. on September 9 to the area of Jump Zone, 6250 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, for a vehicle crash.
Officers requested the fire department to respond to evaluate a juvenile in the vehicle.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Blatzheim was driving a 1993 Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The complaint said Blatzheim was not authorized to take the Dodge, which is owned by another person.
Blatzheim drove the vehicle with a “willful and wanton” disregard for the safety of others when he caused the crash, the complaint said.
Two children, a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old, were inside the truck at the time of the crash.
Blatzheim drove recklessly leading to the crash, which endangered the lives of the children, the complaint said.
The complaint also said a paramedic at the scene was struck in the chest four times by Blatzheim.
Officers arrested Blatzheim and transported him to the McHenry County Jail.
Blatzheim has been released from the jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 10.