A devastating crash occurred Wednesday afternoon when a car driven by a 50-year-old woman plowed into Portillo’s at 2810 Route 34 in Oswego around 1:55 p.m., killing a 2-year-old child and injuring 14 others, according to Oswego police.
The child was inside the restaurant at the time of the incident.
Eight of the injured were transported to area hospitals for treatment, while six others received medical attention at the scene and were released.
The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was alert and able to speak with officers, police said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Oswego Police Chief Jason Bastin described the scene as chaotic, with first responders arriving quickly to perform CPR and address injuries.
“Police officers, firefighters, and EMS arrived on scene very quickly and began dealing with the injuries,” Bastin said.
Witnesses near the crash site also rushed to assist those affected.
Police have urged the public to avoid the area to facilitate the ongoing investigation.
Portillo’s issued a statement expressing grief over the tragedy: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident involving a car that struck our Oswego restaurant this afternoon, and our thoughts are with those affected by this incident. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our guests and team members. We are grateful to the emergency responders who arrived quickly onsite, and we are working closely with local authorities to aid their investigation. The Oswego Portillo’s restaurant will remain closed through the end of the day.”
