Father Speaks Out In Hinsdale Teen's Death

HINSDALE, IL – The father of the Hinsdale teen who was killed in a crash over the summer near Fuller's Car Wash provided more information about it this week.

On July 17, a car wash employee crashed a car into Fontano's Subs, 9 S. Lincoln St., which is across the street from Fuller's. It resulted in the death of 14-year-old Sean Patrick Richards three days later and injuries to three other people.

On Monday, Patch published a story about Fuller's request to the city to build a wall as a public safety measure. The business did not mention the crash in its application, which was submitted three weeks later.

In response to the story, Richards' father, Brian Richards, provided information about the crash.

"Sean was walking on the sidewalk on the west side of Lincoln (the side that the car wash is on), heading north on his way to the Hinsdale Public Library when he was struck and killed by the car wash employee," the father said in an email to Patch. "He was not walking in front of Fontano’s. He was carried/dragged there by the vehicle."

He added, "Sean was walking on the sidewalk from his orthodontist appointment to meet his mom at the Hinsdale Public Library. Just a kid walking on the sidewalk on a sunny summer afternoon in Hinsdale, which we mistakenly thought was safe to do."

Hinsdale police provided few details about the crash at the time. The police department did not respond to a Patch inquiry about the crash in mid-September. Investigations into crashes sometimes take months.

In his emails with Patch, Brian Richards sent the link for the YouTube video for his son's July 25 funeral at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Hinsdale.

Sean Patrick was the youngest of the four children of Brian and Kristine Richards. He attended the church's school from kindergarten to eighth grade. He was set to attend Benet Academy in Lisle in the fall.

"Sean died the way he lived – innocently. Walking down the sidewalk in his hometown from the orthodontist to the library," his father said at the funeral.

Referring to the funeral, Brian Richards said, "We should not have to be doing this, but here we are." He said the church was the only parish his son had ever known.

"The school that he attended from kindergarten through eighth grade was four doors down from the only house where Sean has ever lived. We can see the church from our house," his father said.

"Sean loved everyone he met," Kristine Richards said at the funeral. "I never heard him say a bad word about anyone — ever. I never saw him express anger. He never pouted when he didn't get his way. And he never talked back."

On the day of the crash, his mother said she gave him a "big bear hug" that morning. He had been away at Boy Scout camp the week before.

"I told him, 'I've missed these hugs, and I can definitely tell you're getting taller,'" she said at the funeral. "He was a kind, gentle soul, and I'll never forget the beautiful impact he had on my life."