Drunk Driver Smashes His Head Back into West Loop Pure Barre Fitness Studio; Business has been full of tragedies lately – CBS Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) – Video shows a drunk driver slamming into a West Loop business early Friday, and neighbors say they heard and felt it – and then went on camera to record what happens next.
CBS 2’s Jackie Kostek caught up with the owners of the business, who said it wasn’t the first tragedy to hit them recently.
At 1:25 a.m., police said a 25-year-old woman was driving north on Racine Avenue when she crashed into a Madison Street light pole. She then attempted to reverse and crashed into the Pure Barre gym at 1170 W. Madison St. in The Madison at Racine building.
“Calls from the police and alarm company,” said owner Susan Rothman, “and yes, not the call you want to receive, right?”
Video captures the scene and crash noise as the car reverses past the Pure Barre studio – Rothman’s business for six years. The glass was shattered and the frame smashed.
Neighbors described hearing two loud bangs and the car’s engine revving. Surveillance video shows the driver getting out and trying to flip her car out of the store.
“It’s not real,” said Rothman. “Unreal.”
Not realistically, yes – but Rothman is choosing to look at the bright side.
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“If this had happened at 5 p.m. with a set full of people coming in and out, it would be a completely different conversation,” she said.
Rothman said that the impact did not cause structural damage. However, she still hopes that her door will close for a while.
“I think I’ve always been a pretty resilient person, and owning your own business is a thousandfold lesson,” she says. “So I think those who survive – and especially get through COVID – a lot about it is just guts and resilience.”
The lessons of Rothman’s courage and resilience have come one after another for two years in a row. First, COVID-19 has been off and on for six months. Then there was an armed robbery, and about two months ago, there was an overnight break-in.
And now this.
“You know, just looking for a little bit of our luck, and I think when we put things back in place, I might just throw in some more sage – just sage the whole thing. , right?” Rothman said.
Rothman canceled classes for at least a week. She says the best way to support her business during this time is to visit another of her Pure Barre locations, one mile away at 625 W. Lake St. in Fulton River County.
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The driver in this incident has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, collision and other property possessions – all misdemeanors. The staff also offered her medical assistance at the scene, but she refused.
