Retired Priest To Be Indicted In Hit-And-Run That Killed Teacher

ORLAND PARK, IL — While family members and parishioners were gathering for Rone Leja’s funeral mass on Tuesday morning, the retired priest who police say drove the car that took her life had a hearing in a Bridgeview court room.

Paul Burak, 73, a former pastor at St. Michael Catholic Church in Orland Park, appeared briefly before Cook County Judge John Mahoney. Accompanied by four people, Burak’s case was continued to Jan. 2. Prosecutors said he will be indicted on felony charges of aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Leja, a technology teacher at St. Michael School, and Burak had attended a parish Christmas party on Dec. 4 at Square Celt Ale House and Grill in Orland Square Mall. Burak retired from St. Michael’s in 2018. Before he left the party, a guest asked Burak if he was okay to drive home, according to prosecutors.

• 1 Teacher Dead, Another Injured In Orland Park Hit-And-Run
• Fatal Orland Hit-And-Run Driver In Custody: Police
• Retired Priest 'Blacked Out' Before Fatal Hit & Run: Prosecutors

Leja and her colleague, third-grade teacher Elizabeth Kosteck, were struck crossing a service road to get to their cars, prosecutors said. Both women were taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Leja was pronounced dead from her injuries. Kosteck was released from the hospital the next day, Chief Tim McCarthy said during a news conference.

A witness followed a light-gold vehicle, later determined to be registered to Burak, which struck a curb in front of a Panda Express, according to police. The witness snapped a picture of the license plate and told Burak to go back to the scene of the crash, police said.

According to prosecutors, Burak returned to Square Celt where the teachers were being attended to by paramedics. Prosecutors said Burak remained at the scene for several minutes but did not tell police that he had hit Leja and Kosteck. Another priest attending the party drove Burak home.

Burak was detained by police at his condo on Canterbury Court in Palos Heights after police said they found his Buick Regal parked in his garage. Prosecutors said Burak told them he drank a Manhattan and glass of wine at the party. Burak, who told police he suffers from Parkinson’s disease and glaucoma, claimed that he “blacked out” and thought he hit a curb, court documents said.

Burak was released after posting ten percent of $10,000 bail following a bond hearing last Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. He was also ordered to be placed on electronic monitoring through the Cook County Sheriff’s office. The retired priest is only allowed to leave his Palos Heights condo to attend court hearings and doctor appointments.