Dominic Fontano said he and his staff are all praying for the 14-year-old boy, as well as the other four people injured.
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"It's devastating. It really is, especially as a grandparent," Fontano said.
Fontano had just left his Hinsdale sub and sandwich shop when he got a call about a Jeep that drove through his restaurant.
"My manager called and said, 'Get back right away. It's been an accident,'" Fontano said.
The crash happened on Monday afternoon at 9 South Lincoln Street, with a vehicle driving all the way into the restaurant. First responders arrived just after 2:35 p.m.
Fontano said the surveillance video from his shop captured the vehicle coming from Fuller's Carwash across the street. He said it went directly into his restaurant, where employees and customers were inside, some just walking in.
"The young lady was underneath the car. Her male friend was pinned between the front of the car and the back wall," Fontano said.
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The sub shop owner struggled to describe the aftermath.
"It was a scene that, I don't know, it's hard. It's hard to explain. I'm at a loss for words, I'm sorry," Fontano said.
Hinsdale police and fire officials said five people were hurt. Three of the injured were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in serious condition. One customer was treated on the scene and released. And, the youngest victim, officials said, was a 14-year-old boy.
"The young man was sitting out there. Just to see that, it's something I don't think I'll ever get out of my sight," Fontano said.
Fontano said video shows the teen was at the car wash just before the crash. Fontano said the teen ended up on the hood of the Jeep before falling down, ending up under the vehicle.
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The teenager was taken to Hinsdale Hospital, and was later flown to Chicago's Comer Children Hospital after suffering critical injuries.
"Everything else can be repaired and fixed and everything. But, you know, this little boy's life could be changed forever," Fontano said.
The driver of the vehicle was not injured in this crash. Officials said it's not yet known if or what charges they may be facing.
The Major Crash Reconstruction Team from the DuPage County Merit Task Force is assisting Hinsdale police with the investigation.