CHICAGO (WLS) – Six outdoor diners were injured when a stolen car jumped a curb and crashed into a Near North Side restaurant late Friday night, Chicago fire officials said.
“It was shocking, but I’m really pleased with how everyone handled the situation in the best way possible,” said Jeffrey Magee, Uproar’s assistant general manager.
Customer service at Uproar came second this Saturday night because Magee said he wants to make sure his employees are the ones who are well taken care of.
“We brought in a complaints adviser to talk to our staff,” Magee added. “I want our staff to feel like this place is home. That’s sort of our mantra, like many other places. We are Family. But we really do function as a family.”
According to Chicago Police, it happened around 10:30 p.m. when the driver of a silver Lexus sedan was trying to pass a Toyota Prius traveling south in the 1200 block of North Wells Street.
The Lexus rear-ended the Toyota, lost control, jumped the curb and onto the sidewalk before crashing into the restaurant, CPD said.
Video from the scene shows the vehicle crashing into Uproar’s front yard and front door.
Four patrons and two employees were placed on stretchers and taken to the hospital.
Police said two women suffered broken legs when the front door of the business was left smashed.
“We saw all our staff run out, do whatever they had to do to get somebody, help somebody on the ground,” Maggie
All are expected to be well.
Fire officials said the driver of the car fled.
“I immediately got in my car and chased them! They were running through the park. I was driving through the park,” said one witness.
While an open sign stands in front of the damage left behind, even in the building next door, the owners said they are now raising funds to support the victims who have been left with physical and emotional damage.
We will be open today to raise money and show support for those who were injured last night. If you can’t join us in person to support, please consider donating to the gofundme account we set up for accident victims pic.twitter.com/iz2ntyBWkY
— UproarChi (@UproarChi) July 9, 2022
“Just knowing that the place is loved and our staff is loved, our staff is loved and everyone is really concerned. I think it’s not that it heals wounds, but it definitely improves the mental health a little bit,” Magee said.
In just one day, fundraising has already surpassed $23,000.
Police tell us the driver of the Prius was not injured while they are still searching for the suspect.
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