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GLENCOE, Cook County, Ill., Sept. 24, 2026 — Four people were hurt on Tuesday morning, September 22, when an SUV crashed into a coffee shop on Vernon Avenue in Glencoe, according to the Glencoe Public Safety Department.
The department responded at about 10:28 a.m. to Hometown Coffee & Juice at 700 Vernon Ave. after reports that a vehicle had struck the building. Crews arrived to find a Ford Bronco partially inside the business, having gone through a glass window.
Four people were treated at the scene for minor cuts caused by broken glass, the department said. Two of them were taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Preliminary information indicates a teen was behind the wheel and had been backing out of a parking space when the SUV suddenly moved forward instead, crossed a curb and struck the storefront, according to the department. The crash remains under investigation.
The roadway was closed briefly and reopened by about 10:40 a.m., roughly 12 minutes after crews were dispatched. A village building inspector later cleared the coffee shop to reopen, officials said.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
Where Storefront Crashes Like This Tend to Happen
Vehicle-into-building crashes cluster around small commercial strips and downtown blocks where parking spaces sit close to glass storefronts. Narrow lots, angled parking, and short setbacks between a parking space and a building's front wall give a driver little room to correct a pedal error before the vehicle reaches the structure.
These crashes usually start with a simple mix-up between the accelerator and the brake, especially in stop-and-go parking lots or on-street spaces where a driver is maneuvering at low speed but with the engine already under load. Because the distance to the building is short, even a brief burst of acceleration can be enough to cross a curb and reach the storefront before the driver reacts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 70 percent of people killed in large-truck crashes were occupants of other vehicles in 2023. That statistic reflects highway crashes involving large trucks rather than storefront incidents, but it points to a broader pattern: when a vehicle much heavier than a person collides with fixed structures or other road users, the people outside that vehicle sometimes bear the worst of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should someone do after a vehicle crashes into a building they're in?
Move away from broken glass and unstable structure if possible, and seek medical evaluation even for minor-looking cuts or bruises, since injuries from glass and impact can be more serious than they first appear.
Does driver fatigue play a role in crashes like this?
Fatigue and momentary distraction are common factors in low-speed pedal-error crashes, though investigators typically need time to confirm what caused a specific incident.
How should drivers respond if they're involved in a crash with a commercial vehicle or SUV in a parking area?
Stay at the scene, check for injuries, call local authorities to file a report, and exchange information with other drivers involved once it's safe to do so.
What to Do After a Vehicle-Into-Building Crash in Glencoe, Illinois
If you're inside a business when a vehicle strikes it, get clear of broken glass and debris and check yourself and others for injuries before doing anything else. Even minor lacerations should be looked at by a medical professional, since glass wounds can be deeper than they appear.
Cooperate with responding officers and give a clear account of what you saw, but leave the technical determination of cause to investigators. If you own or work at an affected business, document the damage with photos before cleanup begins and keep records of any inspection or repair notices from local officials.
