Des Plaines Man Charged Over Tow Truck Hit-And-Run Spree

PARK RIDGE, IL — A Des Plaines tow truck driver was arrested last week and accused of more than a dozen hit-and-run crashes in Park Ridge on the morning of New Year's Eve, police said.

The first of the series of crashes was reported around 9:41 a.m. on Dec. 31 near the intersection of Oakton Street and Northwest Highway where the driver allegedly hit a tree. Police said branches from the became lodged in the truck's towing machinery and proceeded to strike about 14 vehicles as the white truck headed through Park Ridge, Chicago and Des Plaines.

Patrick Worley, 34, of the 1800 block of Linden, Des Plaines, turned himself in on Jan. 18, police said. He was charged with damage to village property, reckless driving, driving without insurance and 14 counts of leaving the scene of a property damage accident in connection with the incidents.

Deputy Chief Lou Jogmen said tips from members of the public made the difference in cracking the case. After police released video of the rogue driver on Jan. 4, several anonymous members of the public identified Worley as the suspect.

"Because of those calls identifying him as a suspect, we were able to present photo lineups to witnesses that put him at the scene," Jogmen said.

Worley is the owner and CEO of Rosehill Towing and Recovery, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Jogmen said he is believed to have been driving his own car but it has not yet been identified.

Des Plaines police said Worley was also separately charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without insurance in connection with another crash that morning.

Chicago police were unable to provide any information about possible related crashes in Chicago without being informed of exact addresses where they may have occurred.

Worley was arrested in 2016 after crashing his tow truck into a series of cars while allegedly driving drunk the wrong way down the 3300 block of West Cuyler Avenue in the Irving Park neighborhood, DNAinfo reported. He has a 2010 conviction for causing an accident that resulted in injury or death and 2007 convictions for aggravated battery with a weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Worley was released on bond and has a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 13.

_{Top photo: Patrick Worley booking photograph | Park Ridge PD}