A tragic event unfolded in the west suburbs on Wednesday afternoon, as a car crashed into a bustling Portillo's restaurant in Oswego, tragically resulting in the death of a young boy and injuries to 13 other individuals. Around 1:55 p.m., the accident occurred at the eatery located at 2810 Route 34, where police indicated the venue was packed with diners. A statement from the Oswego Police, as reported by NBC Chicago, detailed the "chaotic" scene that emergency responders faced, with CPR being administered to multiple victims, including a 2-year-old boy who later passed away at the hospital.
The casualties ranged in age from 2 to 50 years old, with eight transported to nearby hospitals, some dealing with serious injuries, according to officials. Six were treated at the location and released. The name of the 2-year-old victim has not yet been made public by authorities. The driver, a 50-year-old woman, was the sole occupant of the gold-colored sedan that penetrated through the front entrance of the establishment, leaving behind a wreckage of shattered glass, twisted furniture, and an engulfing sense of loss for the community. Preliminary investigations suggest the crash was accidental, but as the inquiry proceeds, the Oswego Police are leaving no stone unturned, meticulously combing over witness statements and surveillance footage.
Damaris Abella, a bystander at a neighboring business, recounted the immediate aftermath to ABC7 Chicago, saying, "I saw a gentlemen running with what appeared to be a smaller child, and I saw somebody collapse in between two cars, and the dad or whoever the man was with the person started performing CPR." Oswego's Police Chief Jason Bastin acknowledged the chaotic nature of the scene, crediting the prompt response and decisive action of the first responders.
The community has been left in shock by the event, with resident John Buchanan expressing a sentiment of disquiet to ABC7 Chicago: "It's just sort of numbing," he said, conveying a common urge to "hold each other tight" in the face of such incomprehensible tragedy. Meanwhile, Portillo's, through a statement, expressed immense sorrow for the incident and assured their commitment to safety and cooperation with investigating authorities. The Oswego restaurant remains closed for the foreseeable future as teams work through the intricacies of this devastating episode.
