Elderly man struck by vehicle at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox

The New Lenox Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for a 35-year-old man formerly of Shorewood in connection with an incident that happened at Silver Cross Hospital on Wednesday.

At 6:10 p.m., an 80-year-old man was being assisted into the passenger seat of his vehicle at the New Lenox hospital when a man, now known to be Kyle Sears, entered the driver’s door and began to drive away with the victim’s mini-van, New Lenox police said.

The victim was partially seated in the front passenger seat as Sears began to drive away, New Lenox police said. Sears then pushed the victim out of the vehicle, and the victim was struck by the mini-van as Sears fled the scene, police said.

The vehicle later was recovered in Joliet. The victim is being treated for injuries to his lower body. No further medical information is currently available, police said.

Sears is wanted on charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated hijacking, vehicular invasion, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated battery, police said.

New Lenox police investigators along with the Joliet Police Department and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit continue to look for Sears. His last known address was in Shorewood, but he is believed to be homeless, police said.

Anyone with information on Sears’ whereabouts is asked to call the New Lenox Police Department at 815-485-2500.