Fans Raise $27K for Victims After Driver Crashes Into Old Town Bar’s Patio

Fans of Uproar, a bar and restaurant north of Wells and Division in Old Town, have raised more than $27,000 via GoFundMe to help staff and operators recover after the driver of an allegedly stolen car on Friday, July 8, drove into its patio and injured at least six people, including two employees.

“Tonight a car was stolen, driven recklessly down a major street, Wells, and crashed into our restaurant @UproarChi,” partner Dante Deiana, a DJ and writer for Barstool Sports, tweeted on Saturday alongside photographs of the wreckage. “Please pray for the 6 people taken to the hospital, 2 of our dedicated staff.”

The incident began around 10:30 p.m. on Friday when a driver in a Lexus sedan driving southbound on Wells struck a nearby car in passing and lost control of the vehicle, according to Block Club Chicago. The car rolled over the curb and into Uproar’s outdoor patio, where it reportedly struck multiple people as the driver fled the scene.

Deiana tells Eater that one of Uproar’s workers received seven stitches and is “bruised everywhere” but “grateful to be alive.” A second worker should be released from the hospital later on Monday after having surgery on her foot. Her recovery will take time. The four non-customers were okay after suffering minor injuries.

If the wreck happened an hour earlier there would have been more injuries as the patio was full, Deiana adds, saying he’s “just so grateful that nothing tragic happened,” and that he’s thankful the money raised will cover medical bills and will help support the workers while they can’t work.

Police have made no arrests.

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Shawn Clendening

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