A 12 months and a half after a Hinsdale Fuller’s Automotive Wash worker misplaced management of a automobile and struck and killed a teen strolling close by, the corporate is submitting for chapter.
Nevertheless, the household of 14-year-old Sean Richards, who was killed, is accusing the corporate of utilizing the submitting to attempt to keep away from testifying in court docket.
On July 17, 2023, a 16-year-old Fuller’s automobile wash worker drove a Jeep Wrangler out of the automobile wash at a excessive price of velocity and struck and killed Richards as he walked alongside the sidewalk. The motive force then slammed into Fontano’s Subs throughout the road.
The worker wasn’t criminally charged, however he was issued three site visitors citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk, failure to train due care and failure to cut back velocity.
Richards’ household mentioned they’d anticipated the chapter declare and questioned the timing, which they are saying comes as Fuller’s house owners and staff had been anticipated to testify in court docket concerning the household’s wrongful-death suit filed in late 2023.
“Even after killing a toddler and injuring others, the Fullers are attempting to keep away from the reality, accountability and public security,” the boy’s household mentioned in an announcement. “We’re accustomed to the outdated saying that justice delayed is justice denied. And as soon as once more Fuller’s are utilizing each trick within the e book to delay our day in court docket.”
The household mentioned they had been “affected person and decided” to get justice for his or her son.
Fuller’s Automotive Wash didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The household has beforehand mentioned the situation must be moved from the busy downtown Hinsdale space and their wrongful loss of life lawsuit, filed by Clifford Regulation Workplaces, seeks not less than $50,000 in damages. It names Fuller’s Automotive Wash, the Douglas Fuller household and the 16-year-old driver’s father as defendants.
