Woman injured after crashing car into Josephine's Southern Cooking in Chatham, police say: VIDEO

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A popular Chicago restaurant is in need of repair after a car crashed into it on Friday morning.

Rubble now litters the street outside Josephine's Southern Cooking at East 79th Street and South Vernon Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood.

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Surveillance video captured the crash, which happened just after 8 a.m., just about an hour before the restaurant was set to open.

Chicago police said a 58-year-old woman was driving a Chevy sedan east, when she hit a commercial vehicle, which was turning south. The Chevy then struck the restaurant.

The restaurant owner said one person was inside the building at the time of the crash, but they were not hurt.

Co-owner Victor Love said the crash could have been much worse, and the neighborhood is turning out to help clean up.

"My mother has given a lot of love, and shown a lot of love to this community, and even the city at large. So, I'm not surprised, and I'm grateful," Love said.

Josephine "Mother" Wade first opened the restaurant.

"She's been around since the 90s, '92,3,4. Her husband had Captain Smith down by King Drive," neighborhood resident Andre Horton said.

Horton, who is also known as the mayor of 79th Street, like many others, can't believe what happened.

The Chevy's driver was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

A woman, who did not want to be identified, said she is the daughter of the driver of the car involved. She said her mother is a little banged up, but will be OK.

"And when it hit her, it hit her so hard she turned up into the restaurant," she said.

A few startled neighborhood residents heard the crash.

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"It was like 'boom,' and then you just heard glass shatter everywhere," one resident said.

Emergency crews arrived to find the car lodged inside the restaurant's dining area.

The vehicle's path also took out the restaurant's front wall and entrance.

Repairs may take at least a week.

Ald. William Hall, with the 6th Ward, said he'll do everything in his power to help.

"We don't have many restaurants in this ward; so, we want this to be what it's always been, which is a place of hope and feeding those who are hungry," Hall said.

Josephine's Southern Cooking has been a part of the community for 43 years, and has fed everyone, from the famous to the every day.

It's also endured its share of challenges.

Not only did the diner remain open following a series of break-ins and robberies, it was remodeled in 2019, and made it through the pandemic, offering thousands of free meals to those in need.

And while Love said word of the damage has hit his mother hard, he's vowing to keep her legacy going.

"We are going to rebuild; we going to win," Love said.

There is no word yet on what caused the driver to crash. Police said citations are pending.