KINGSTON -- A suspect has been charged six months after a drag racing crash that badly hurt a 12-year-old boy in Luzerne County.
21-year-old Paul Butkiewicz was silent as he entered and exited the magistrate judge's office in Kingston.
The man from Plymouth faces several charges including aggravated assault and racing on a highway back in September.
Police say Butkiewicz and another driver were drag racing down Wyoming Avenue in Kingston when Butkiewicz's car crashed, hitting a truck with 12-year-old Josh Simon in the back seat.
Along with two others in Butkiewicz's car, Josh was flown to a hospital near Danville after he was thrown from the vehicle.
"I think everybody involved is devastated," said defense attorney Demetrius Fannick. "This was a tragic incident from all parties involved."
Josh's parents were not at the arraignment because their son is back in the hospital. We did talk with Josh's father shortly after the crash.
"He has multiple skull fractures, hip fractures, pelvic area fractures, his back is fractured, his organs are swollen and bruised," said Ben Simon back in September. "He was able to finally breathe on his own and he's started to respond but he's still in very bad condition."
Back then, the family did share a lesson to the driver that caused this crash.
"A day of fun can lead to something like this and there's repercussions for your actions," Simon added.
Paul Butkiewicz is free after posting bail. No one else has been charged in connection with the crash.