3 injured when car crashes into Green Door Tavern

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Three people were injured, including two women who were standing on the street, when a hit-and-run driver caused a car to crash into the historic Green Door Tavern bar in River North, police said.

Police say that around 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a dark blue Toyota ran a red light at Orleans and hit a silver car, sending it flying into the Green Door Tavern. The driver of the silver car also sustained injuries, according to police.

"All of a sudden the whole room shook and there was a loud boom when the car hit. So everybody was freaked out," said Joe Garber, who was inside at the time of the crash.

"Car came through the red light and the car was coming this way, they collided in the street and the car that was coming from Orleans, it came straight into here. I was in bed and it shook the whole building," said Green Door manager Jorge Gomez, who lives upstairs.

All three injured were taken to hospitals to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police say the driver of the blue Toyota and three additional people inside of it ran away, and they are still searching for the driver. No one is currently in custody.

"I just saw a bunch of people surrounding everything that's going on over there," said Tito Acevedo, who witnessed the crash. "And the cars that were just like, one was pinned to the pole right there, almost looked like it was going to go inside the Green Tavern building. And another car that was off to the side. And then a bunch of people hopped out the vehicle, hopped into another car that was behind them and took off."

The Green Door Tavern, a historic bar that opened in 1921, also suffered some damage. The bar and restaurant posted a message to their Facebook page about the accident saying, in part, "Our building, while bruised, appears that it will be standing another 100+ years!"

They also said they will open as usual at 10 a.m. for brunch.