9-month-old ejected from van during police chase

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) – An infant was ejected from a van when a man with warrants for vehicle theft ran from police in Ohio earlier this month.

According to a spokesperson with the Bryan Police Department, 32-year-old Zachary Chervenka was at Walmart when someone noticed him, knowing he had active arrests out of Butler, Indiana, and called 911.

An officer approached him while he was sitting in a van in the parking lot with two children in the back, while their mother was loading groceries into the vehicle.

“Zach, how’s it going? He’s running,” one officer can be heard saying in dash camera video released of a police chase that ensued.

The van door was open and his 9-month-old and 5-year-old children were inside when the father sped off leaving their mother behind.

Authorities said a police chase reached speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

“I think he blew a tire. We’re heading southbound on 127. Be advised the doors open. We’re turning right on the first road past the 15 and 127 split,” an officer said.

As they rounded the split, what the officer did not see was the car seat carrying the 9-month-old baby boy flying out of the van bouncing multiple times off the grass.

The chase lasted 15 minutes before police decided to end the pursuit because of bad weather.

While the father was trying to shake the police, he called his kids’ mother and told her where to find them.

It took law enforcement an hour to find the baby.

Police drove her to the scene. The infant was in its car seat on a highly traveled highway.

“Oh my God baby boy, baby boy,” the mother could be heard saying.

The baby was awake and crying.

According to a police report, an ER doctor told police the infant’s “body temperature was extremely low and could have been life-threatening if he was left out in the cold for much longer.”

The 5-year-old was dropped off at a friend’s house.

According to authorities, an officer and police dog apprehended Chervenka at an apartment complex in Edgerton.

He told officers he was scared and admitted he made a dumb decision.

Chervenka was charged with endangering children.

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