BRADLEY, IL – A routine morning took a harrowing turn Tuesday when a Kankakee man’s SUV fully smashed into a residential home and a bustling shopping complex, triggering chaos and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to authorities, the incident unfolded around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, in the heart of Bradley’s 700 block of East North Street. Eyewitnesses were left stunned as a full-sized SUV driven by 34-year-old Eric Blake, a resident of Kankakee, accelerated uncontrollably, hurtling toward a cluster of businesses.
First in its path was the Harbor Freight store and the popular eatery, Tacos del Norte. The SUV struck several items, sending debris including bricks flying, and creating a scene of pandemonium as patrons and employees scrambled to safety.
Undeterred by the initial collision, the SUV continued its path of destruction, tearing across the parking lot, careening over a grassy easement, and crashing through North Street itself. The vehicle’s relentless momentum finally came to a halt as it barreled into a quiet residential home, shattering windows and leaving a gaping hole in its wake.
Miraculously, neither Blake nor the two homeowners, inside at the time of the crash, sustained serious injuries. Blake was arrested on several traffic violation charges.
