OSWEGO, Ill. (WGN) A 2-year-old boy was killed and 14 other people, including the driver, were injured after a vehicle plowed into a Portillo’s restaurant Wednesday afternoon in a Chicago suburb.
According to police in Oswego, Ill., the 2-year-old was inside the restaurant when the crash occurred just before 2 p.m. local time. Police said 13 other people inside the restaurant were injured, three of them seriously.
Of those injured, paramedics rushed eight to a nearby hospital, including the driver, a 50-year-old woman, according to police. Paramedics also treated six people at the scene, who were later released. The ages of the victims ranged from 2 to 50.
The driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle. Police said it’s too early in their investigation to comment on whether the driver could face charges but said they are not ruling it out.
In the interim, officers are reviewing surveillance video and speaking with witnesses and the driver to determine what exactly occurred. Police say, based on their preliminary findings, the crash appeared to be accidental.
“Our investigation is in its early stages, but preliminary information suggests that this is a tragic accident,” Oswego Police Department Chief Jason Bastin said during a news conference Wednesday. “The driver was speaking. As far as it being a medical emergency, we don’t have that information yet.”
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Photo courtesy of WGN’s Courtney Spinelli -
Photo courtesy of WGN’s Courtney Spinelli -
Photo courtesy of WGN’s Courtney Spinelli -
Photo courtesy of WGN’s Courtney Spinelli
‘Hard thing to witness’
Maria Garcia, who lives in the area, said it appeared several Portillo’s employees were overcome with emotion.
“As some of the employees were dispersing the area, I noticed that a few were distraught, and my first reaction was to reach out to them and comfort them, because it’s a hard thing to witness,” Garcia said. “I said, ‘Please come sit in my car, I have the AC running,’ and I said, ‘If you need to make a few phone calls, call your family. I can call them for you if you can’t, I can drive you home, whatever you need.’
“I said, ‘I’m here for you,’ and just kind of gave them a hug and made sure they were OK,” she said.
Others who spoke with affiliate WGN said they were heartbroken, as the crash occurred amid a busy time of day for the restaurant.
The restaurant was closed for the remainder of Wednesday following the crash, and it was still boarded up early Thursday morning.
Portillo’s issued a statement Wednesday, saying in part that it was “deeply saddened by the tragic accident.”
“Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident. As we continue to assess this unfolding situation, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our guests and team members. We are grateful to the emergency responders who arrived quickly on-site, and we are working closely with local authorities to aid their investigation. At this time, the Oswego Portillo’s restaurant will remain closed through the end of (Wednesday). We will defer all additional questions to local law enforcement.”
Statement from Portillo’s
