On July 30, 2025, tragedy struck again in suburban Illinois when a vehicle violently crashed into the Portillo’s restaurant located at 2810 U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego, tragically killing a 2-year-old boy and injuring more than a dozen others. GWC Injury Lawyers currently represents two individuals injured in this devastating crash.
While authorities have labeled this incident a “tragic accident,” a deeper issue persists: insufficient protective measures to safeguard pedestrians and customers. Photos and initial investigations show the shocking absence of protective bollards, a critical safety measure that could have prevented this devastating event.
While the parking lot at Portillo’s had parking bumpers along the sides of the building, inexplicably, no such protection existed directly in front of the entrance. This was a vulnerable point clearly susceptible to vehicle intrusions.
This case bears alarming similarities to another tragic crash at Fuller’s Car Wash in Hinsdale, IL, which resulted in a fatality and multiple serious injuries when an employee-driven Jeep crashed into neighboring Fontano’s Sub Shop. GWC Injury Lawyers represented multiple victims of that Hinsdale crash, securing a seven-figure settlement after exposing serious safety oversights, including the lack of bollards.
As attorneys dedicated to advocating for public safety, GWC Injury Lawyers is committed to holding property and business owners accountable when preventable tragedies occur. Our investigation into the Portillo’s incident is already underway, focused on addressing the critical safety failings at play.
Our hearts remain with the victims and their families affected by this preventable tragedy. It is past time for property owners across Illinois to ensure lifesaving safety measures like bollards are installed, so devastating incidents like these never happen again.
Any requests for additional information about the Portillo’s crash should be directed to GWC Owner and Managing Partner Louis C. Cairo at lcairo@gwclaw.com.