A Ford van crashed into a parked car at the entrance to Portillo’s and then continued into the front door of the restaurant around 3 PM on Monday afternoon. Witnesses in the drive thru lane saw the van headed eastbound on North Avenue just before Westmore make a high speed turn into the driveway entering the shopping area. The van was traveling too fast to turn into the proper lane, entering the outgoing lane and then traveled approximately 50 feet where it struck a vehicle parked in a handicap spot in front of Portillo’s. The Nissan Altima was pushed into the building and then sideways away from the structure. The van continued into the glass block wall that frames the entrance door where it came to rest.

The van was driven by an adult woman and there was a young female passenger. The Nissan Altima - which is reportedly the Manager of the Portillo’s vehicle - was not occupied. There were no injuries reported.

The Portillo’s Restaurant was closed due to the accident and employees were seen entering the rear entrance of the building after the vehicles had been towed. Villa Park Police on the scene had the entrance taped off to restrict access to the front door entrance.

Two eyewitnesses from Bensenville, Pat & Terry, were in their van facing west in the drive thru when they saw the Ford van heading towards them and turn into the driveway of the shopping center. Both said the van was traveling too fast to make the turn and hit the Altima first, then the front entrance of the restaurant.

Both vehicles were towed by a flatbed from the scene. Villa Park Building officials were on the scene while the vehicles were being removed to assess the situation. The Portillo’s Restaurant is located at 635 1/2 W. North Avenue in Villa Park and is the site of the original Dog House that started Portillo’s in 1963.