A Year Since Sean Richards' Death In Hinsdale
HINSDALE, IL – As of Wednesday, it’s been a year since the crash at Fuller’s Car Wash, 102 Chicago Ave., that killed 14-year-old Sean Patrick Richards of Hinsdale.
Richards was walking from the orthodontist’s office to the library on the afternoon of July 17, 2023, when a Fuller’s employee lost control of a car. The car hit Richards and ended up crashing into Fontano’s Subs, injuring three people inside. Richards died three days later.
At his funeral, Richards’ parents, Brian and Kristine Richards, described what kind of person Richards was.
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“Sean died the way he lived – innocently,” his father said.
His mother said, “He was a kind, gentle soul, and I’ll never forget the beautiful impact he had on my life.”
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On Wednesday, the car wash closed for the day, with the business saying it was out of respect for the Richards family, along with those injured and their families.
“We continue to pray for the families, and for the strength and healing of our community,” a sign at Fuller’s said.
For months, Brian and Kristine Richards, who sued Fuller’s, have asked the village to require increased safety around the car wash. Shortly after the crash, the business set up barriers known as bollards to prevent another crash. But the family hired an engineer who said the barriers weren’t enough to stop another tragedy.
The village got Fuller’s to agree to install more bollards and erect a wall to hide them. But that project is months behind schedule.
In June, Village President Tom Cauley told the family that the business was reluctant to spend $100,000 if the wash would then close under the terms of a possible legal settlement.
Brian Richards confirmed the family’s goal was to shut down the car wash.
The project has since begun.
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