'Permanent' Fix Sought For Hinsdale Car Wash

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale's new village president on Tuesday asked the village's staff to seek a "permanent solution" for the car wash where an employee fatally struck a 14-year-old boy with a car two years ago.

At a Village Board meeting, trustees approved a design change for safety improvements at Fuller's Car Wash, 102 Chicago Ave.

The village dropped the requirement for a decorative brick wall meant to hide bollards at the car wash.

On July 17, 2023, Sean Patrick Richards, a Hinsdale 14-year-old, was walking on the sidewalk in front of Fuller's on Chicago Avenue when an employee driving a car hit him, crossed the street and crashed into Fontano's restaurant, injuring customers. The teen died days later.

Shortly after that, Fuller's installed bollards without a permit. The following January, the board approved the bollards, but required a brick wall.

Later that year, the Richards family and their engineer presented evidence that they said showed the bollards could not withstand heavier cars going at certain speeds.

After the village engineer analyzed the situation, Hinsdale mandated stronger barriers.

The Richards family sued Fuller's over their son's death. The car wash filed for bankruptcy in January.

"The fact that the Fullers are in bankruptcy does not factor into this decision," Village President Greg Hart said at Tuesday's meeting. "If the wall were deemed safe and necessary, we would pursue its construction through every appropriate legal channel."

He said engineers representing the Richards family and the village raised serious concerns that the wall could pose a "significant" safety hazard.

He noted jersey barriers are in place on Chicago Avenue and Lincoln Street in front of the car wash.

"Those barriers will remain until a permanent solution is identified," Hart said. "Tonight, I'm directing the village staff to work in coordination with representatives of the Fullers and bankruptcy trustees to identify and implement an appropriate and permanent alternative to ensure safety along those frontages."

Trustee Luke Stifflear said the input from residents was valuable throughout the entire process.

"We worked with residents to get what their requests were," he said. "But I would also note that (Fuller's) worked with us in order to install what we were asking them to do."

Last year, Hinsdale hired an engineering firm to design the bollards. That cost more than $20,000.

Hinsdale has billed Fuller's, which has not paid it. The debt, which is listed in Fuller's bankruptcy documents, was left unmentioned during Tuesday's meeting.

In a March meeting, the victim's mother, Kristine Richards, noted Fuller's debt. Sh praised the village for pursuing the money, saying taxpayers should not foot the bill for safety measures at a private business.

In response, then-Village President Tom Cauley said Hinsdale has lawyers who collect money owed to the village.