SUV Goes Into Loop Cafe, Injures 8

Eight people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a vehicle jumped a curb and ran into a cafe in the Loop.

The crash occurred at Petterino's, at the intersection of Randolph and Dearborn streets, shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday. 

The victims were believed to be pedestrians and not customers of the cafe.  They were transported to multiple hospitals, including one in critical condition, one in serious condition and four in good condition, Curtis said.

"It was rush hour, plus Billy Elliot was letting out (of the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre), so you had lots of people out here.  It was really crazy," said Lamar Williams, who was directing traffic at the time of the crash.

The driver of the vehicle, a teal-colored SUV with a "xenophobia" sticker in the window, was not injured.  Xenophobia is the uncontrollable fear of strangers or foreigners.

No one was charges have been filed in connnection with the crash and there was no word on possible citations as of early Wednesday evening.