Westmont Restaurant Owner Killed In Oswego Crash: Police

OSWEGO, IL — Matt Verde, 49, the owner of Neat Kitchen & Bar in Westmont, died after he was hit by a car while crossing the street in Oswego Thursday night, according to police and a GoFundMe set up for the family.

Verde, who also had a restaurant location in Oswego, was crossing the street when he was hit by a Toyota Prius driven by a 17-year-old girl, according to police. The crash took place around 9:39 p.m. near a grocery store at 2700 Rte. 34.

Members of the Oswego Fire Protection District paramedics took Verde to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said Friday evening. Verde died Sunday afternoon, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help his family.

The driver was not hurt in the crash, police say. A preliminary investigation indicates the teen was heading southbound on the access road between the Meijer parking lot and the stores in the 1400 block of Douglas Road when she struck Verde, who was crossing the road westbound, police spokesperson Cathy Nevara said in an update Monday.

Nevara said a witness reported seeing a man in dark clothing heading diagonally through the parking lot shortly before the crash occurred.

"We are devastated by this ending but know that Matt's work is not done as he watches over all of us from Heaven," the GoFundMe organizers wrote. "In Matt's words, 'See ya on the flip side Buddy.'"

No charges have been filed as of Monday afternoon. The crash remains under investigation.

Patch Editor Emily Rosca contributed reporting.