Following the tragic event where a 2-year-old boy was killed after a car crashed into an Oswego Portillo's, the establishment has started installing safety barriers, FOX32 Chicago reports. The construction comes after the young victim's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit and evidence pointed to prior incidents at the restaurant chain's locations, with the McKee family's attorney stating, "Safety barriers save lives." Although the change is seen as a step forward, there was a clear acknowledgment that this action cannot reverse the profound loss suffered by the McKee family.
This move, which includes the installation of bollards and parking blocks outside the restaurant on Route 34, follows what authorities believe was an accidental crash that led to Finnegan McKee's death and injured twelve others, resulting in an ongoing investigation into pressing charges. According to FOX32 Chicago, the family's attorneys assert that Portillo's parking lot design and the absence of safety barriers created a dangerous environment, leading to this devastating incident, which they claim could have been anticipated and prevented.
Commensurately, the leaders of the Oswego community are pursuing greater safety measures, as explained in an article from the Chicago Tribune, with the Village Board deliberating potential changes to their building codes for new commercial constructions, prompted by the fatal crash. The discussions have centered on additional protective mechanisms, such as the use of bollards or planters to shield the front of businesses, aiming to blend aesthetics with function and prioritizing safety for patrons. However, these discussions are currently preliminary, with no definitive codes adopted yet.
Oswego Development Services Director Rod Zenner highlights that while current codes don't demand these safety features, the Village can adopt local amendments to surpass the International Building Code's standards, Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman expressed his preference towards integrating aesthetic solutions like planters that serve protective purposes, adding a touch of visual appeal to essential safety, while Trustees like Jennifer Hughes urge the importance of looking at a range of locations that could benefit from such measures in the face of accidental or intentional threats.
