Chaos briefly erupted at a Central Peoria restaurant Sunday evening when an SUV plowed through its walls. Sharkey's Fish and Chicken, located at the intersection of North Sterling and West Forrest Hill, became the unintended parking spot for the mid-sized vehicle. The incident, which occurred at around 8:20 p.m., led to the establishment's immediate closure. According to 25News, all patrons and staff inside were unharmed, and the SUV's driver, though treated for minor injuries on the scene, was later taken into custody by police.
A statement obtained by Central Illinois Proud reveals that Peoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Waldron was on-site following the crash. The SUV had crashed through the south wall and was entirely inside the building upon firefighters' arrival. "The driver was treated for minor injuries and then was 'released to the custody of Peoria PD,'" Waldron reported, though it remained unclear whether the driver was cited or arrested.
The incident prompted an abrupt suspension of operations for Sharkey's as the establishment sustained substantial damage. Both gas and electricity services were cut off as a precautionary measure, while the city's code enforcement was called to assess the raw gas in the fabric of the infrastructure. "The building sustained heavy damage and will be closed until further notice," as stated by Central Illinois Proud.
