The community in Oswego is mourning the loss of a local entrepreneur, Matthew Verde, 49, who died following a tragic accident. Verde, the owner of Neat Kitchen & Bar with locations in Westmont and the recently opened Oswego location, was struck by a car while crossing a road.
The incident occurred last Thursday, as Verde was walking on an access road near the Meijer store at 2700 Route 34, Oswego police reported. The restaurateur was hit by a Toyota Prius, driven by a 17-year-old girl. Despite being transported to a hospital for medical attention, Verde's injuries proved fatal and he later succumbed, a post on the restaurant's Facebook page announced in a somber note, "In Matt's words, 'See ya on the flip side Buddy,'" as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
A GoFundMe page was established following the crash which revealed that Verde had suffered significant injuries, including head trauma. The fundraising effort was intended to aid with the financial burden following the accident. According to information on the page, Verde passed away on Sunday, November 24.
Oswego Police have stated that the crash, which took place at approximately 9:39 p.m., upon the preliminary investigation, it appears Verde was attempting to cross in front of the Meijer store when he was struck. The teenage driver of the vehicle involved was not injured. The circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation, according to a news release obtained by Shaw Local.
