More Barriers Pushed At Hinsdale Car Wash

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is calling for more barriers to prevent another crash at Fuller's Car Wash.

In October, the village's Plan Commission approved the car wash's installation of 11 concrete-filled bollards, along with a planned brick wall to conceal the barriers.

Those bollards were quickly put in after the crash that killed Sean Patrick Richards of Hinsdale. The business did so without the village's approval.

After the Village Board took its first look at the proposal in November, Hinsdale's engineering consultant analyzed whether the bollards would withstand a car going 35 mph, according to a village memo last week.

Based on that analysis, the proposed ordinance was amended to require seven more bollards before the car wash builds the brick wall.

The brick wall, the memo said, would be decorative and further reinforce the strength of the bollards.

According to an ordinance, the Village Board's failure to act on a Plan Commission recommendation within 90 days is considered a denial. Monday is the 89th day.

The Village Board typically meets Tuesday, but it instead plans a special meeting Monday.

The board did not say why it was moving up its meeting, but perhaps it was because it was close to the 90th-day deadline.

At the Plan Commission's October meeting, Doug Fuller, president of the car wash, said the business had seen two other close calls in its 78-year history.

"We just worked as a group to make it safer and safer and safer," Fuller said. "After this accident, I couldn't sleep. No one is going to die the way Sean did. No one is going to die that way. That poor family has to live with this for the rest of their lives."

He added, "Three times in the 78 years. This is a freak of nature. It's never going to happen on my watch."

On the afternoon of July 17, a 16-year-old employee of Fuller's crashed a car into Fontano's Subs, 9 S. Lincoln St., which is across the street.

The car struck Richards, who was walking on the sidewalk. He died three days later.

In late October, authorities released the results of their investigation into the crash.