Car Crashes into Wilmette Library

One Wilmette Public Library employee had been sent to the hospital for minor injuries following a car crash into the building Wednesday afternoon.

"The 51-year-old driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal and crashed into the room where employees shelve books," Wilmette Police told Patch. 

Two library employees were in the room during the time of the crash, which occurred around 12:27 p.m. One of the employees was sitting at a desk that was struck by the car, and had later been taken to the hospital.

"She was shook up and the other employee was sent home for the day," said Library Director Ellen Clark, who was waiting for the site to be boarded up, "We're all glad no one was seriously injured."

Clark had been at a meeting nearby when police notified her of the accident. A village structural engineer surveyed the damage shortly after the incident occurred and said the building was sound, according to Clark. After the broken glass is removed and the windows are boarded up, the room can continue to be used by staff, she added.

"It sounded like a bomb," one patron said.