Elderly couple crashes into restaurant

July 19, 2007 (WLS) -- Lunch at a suburban restaurant Thursday ended with a crash after a driver lost control and careened into the building. Eight people are hurt. No charges have been filed. The crash happened at a Panera Bread restaurant in north suburban Wilmette.

The elderly woman who was driving the car had a clean record, according to the secretary of state's office. That office also says she renewed her license last September. When she drove her car into the restaurant, eight people were injured. They were between 13 and 47 years old. All of them were out of the hospital by Thursday night. In the meantime, at the scene, it has been very business as Panera workers get ready to reopen the restaurant Friday.

Clean-up was under way Thursday at the Panera Bread restaurant, 1199 Wilmette Avenue, after a 94-year-old Wilmette woman drove into the building.

"She came in gangbusters. She came in extremely fast and all I saw was glass and metal crumbling. It was almost like an explosion," said Eric Smoot, Panera customers.

Smoot witnessed the accident as he was leaving Panera. Police say the elderly woman was trying to park in a handicap spot. Instead, she nicked Smoot's black Porsche SUV and busted through the glass storefront. When Smoot realized what happened, he ran to help her.

"I was just trying to her to stay calm, because I didn't want her to have a heart attack. She seemed like she was really, really concerned about everyone, and she just was half out of it," said Smoot.

Witnesses say the elderly couple in the car were able to walk away from the scene.

"They were physically okay but you could see they were mentally shaken up," said James O'Hara, witness.

Police say eight customers were injured, including a woman who was pinned under the car.

"We all ran back in and tried to lift up the car and they were able to get the individual, the lady, out from under the car," said Bill Klinge, Panera customer.

Most of the injuries were minor, like Laura Murphy, who left St. Frances Hospital with cuts and bruises, and a sense of humor.

"I am really hungry. I never got a chance to eat Panera," said Murphy.

Police took the car away and planned to have it check for any mechanical failures, while the customers reflected on a frightening experience.

"It is very scary. We were all shook up," said Cathi Borushek, Panera customer.

Police say they will be checking that car and wait for a full accident report before they issue any citations against the driver.

Attempts to reach the driver at her Wilmette home Thursday evening were unsuccessful. Her family did not want to make any comments.

As for the Panera store, workers were very busy Thursday evening and plan to have the store ready to open Friday.

Investigators say the 94-year-old driver has not been charged and has had a clean driving record. Police have not said age was a factor in this accident.

Illinois has among the most stringent retesting policies in the country for senior drivers. At the age of 75 you must pass a driving and vision test every four years. At 81 it becomes every two years. And at age 87 you must pass a test every year.

"There's no state in the country that has a limit on the age, and I suspect it would be declared unconstitutional if someone passed a law limiting the driving age," said David Druker, Illinois secretary of state spokesman.

Statistics show that seniors have among the best driving records on the road.

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