A popular Chicago area car wash is at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit after a Hinsdale teenager was killed in a horrific car accident.

On July 17, 14-year-old Sean Richards was killed at the Fuller’s Car Wash after a Jeep being driven by a car wash employee struck him. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Hinsdale Police Department conducted a joint investigation and concluded that the 16-year-old employee who was behind the wheel accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake. The employee's deadly mistake caused the vehicle to barrel forward, striking Richard and three others. The Jeep also crossed two lanes of traffic before crashing into the nearby Fontano’s Subs.

The family is represented by Clifford Law Offices, which filed the lawsuit late last week on behalf of the teen’s parents, Brian and Kristine Richards. The lawsuit names Fuller’s Car Wash, the Douglas Fuller family, and the father of the 16-year-old driver as defendants.

Bradley Cosgrove, the attorney representing the family, says that Richard’s death was a “predictable tragedy that was clearly avoidable.” Reports point to two other instances since 2007 in which drivers lost control of their vehicles after exiting the carwash. Those accidents resulted in damaged vehicles, but no one was hurt. It wasn't until Richard’s death in July that safety concrete bollards were installed.

The teen’s mother, Kristine Richards, expressed her grief saying, “Why did it take our young son’s death for them to take any action to protect the public, especially given their knowledge of prior incidents at this site?”

The boy's father described his son as “a friend to all,” adding, “Sean had the unique ability to make those around him better people and at the same time make them feel better about themselves. He was sunshine, goodness and a positive influence on everyone around him.”

The family’s legal team maintains that while no additional license or credential is required for a 16-year-old to operate a vehicle in a car wash, industry standards “dictate that a 16-year-old shouldn’t be put behind the wheel of a vehicle.”

The 16-year-old employee did not face any criminal charges for his actions. However, he was issued three traffic citations. They include failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk, failure to exercise due care, and failure to reduce speed.

Fuller’s Car Wash issued a statement after the accident explaining that the lawsuit “does not change our heavy hearts and the grief we feel for the Richards family and the other families affected by this incident.” Their statement continues, “While we cannot fathom what they are going through, we pray for the Richards family, all of those injured, and our entire community. The depth of this tragedy is felt daily by our family and employees. Our pledge is to remember and our promise is to serve the community faithfully as we have for decades.”

The family is seeking at least $50 million in damages.