After Fatal Crash, Hinsdale Car Wash Makes Request

HINSDALE, IL – Fuller's Car Wash in Hinsdale is asking the village for permission to build a wall along its property as a public safety measure.

This is an apparent response to a July 17 crash. A car wash employee is believed to have crashed a car into Fontano's Subs, 9 S. Lincoln St., across the street.

Sean Patrick Richards, 14, of Hinsdale, was walking in the area of the deli when he was struck by the vehicle. He died a few days later.

A memorial was set up outside Fontano's Subs, 9 S. Lincoln St., in late July following the death of 14-year-old Hinsdale resident Sean Patrick Richards, who died after a car struck him outside the restaurant. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Three diners were injured. They later sued the car wash.

On Wednesday, the Hinsdale Plan Commission is set to review a request for a nearly 5-foot wall on the south and east sides of the business.

Fuller's submitted its application Aug. 7, three weeks after the crash. But it did not mention the tragedy in its paperwork to the village.

The wall would be for public safety and beautification of a downtown business, Fuller's attorney Joel Groenewold said in an Aug. 9 letter to the village.

In a memo, Hinsdale officials said 11 concrete-filled bollards were installed in August at the southeast corner of the Fuller's property without the village's approval.

The car wash's application said the bollards would be incorporated into the wall.

The original zoning for the car wash was approved in 1995.

The commission meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Village Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave.