Two injured after Jeep crashes into downtown Sycamore building

Two people suffered minor injuries after their Jeep crashed into the front of a downtown Sycamore business Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Police, firefighters and Sycamore city building inspectors remained at the crash site as of 3:30 p.m. Friday, roping off the area to the public. The sidewalk will remain closed to passersby through the weekend, but the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is expected to proceed as scheduled, Deputy Police Chief Joseph Meeks said.

The storefront of the women’s clothing store Atlas Roots Collective, 330 W. State St., sustained damage from the crash, as did an adjoining wall connecting to The Studio by MC Beauty, Meeks said. He spoke from the crash site as a crowd of onlookers gathered.

Paramedics with the Sycamore Fire Department took a driver and passenger to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb with injuries that weren’t life-threatening he said.

“We’re just glad that nobody got seriously hurt,” Meeks said.

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Sycamore police rope off a portion of the sidewalk in the 300 block of State Street downtown on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, after a vehicle crashed into the front of Atlas Roots Collective women's clothing store, injuring two, authorities said. (Kelsey Rettke)

Morgan Prentiss, with MC Beauty Salon, said staff are OK, and that the business remains open.

Downtown still was bustling about 3 p.m. while police remained at the scene during the third day of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, the city’s largest event of the year. Sunday’s parade and other festival activities are expected to proceed as planned, however, Meeks said.

A white Jeep Cherokee was parked at a spot in front of Atlas Roots Collective when it began to back out of the space at 1:17 p.m., according to a news release from Sycamore police.

Through a preliminary police investigation, authorities learned that the Jeep was in a minor collision with another vehicle while backing out of the parking spot, Meeks said. The driver, reacting to the collision, then drove forward, crossed the sidewalk, and crashed into the storefronts, according to the release.

Atlas Roots Collective and the MC Beauty Salon at 326 W. State St. were occupied at the time of the crash, but no one inside the businesses was injured. In a Friday social media post, Merchants of Sycamore said Atlas Roots Collective, which couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, will be closed for the time being.

Engineers and building inspectors checked the building for structural stability Friday, authorities said.

Bricks from the impacted building facade could be seen scattered on the sidewalk next to where the vehicle struck. That area of the sidewalk was cordoned off by police tape while officials towed the vehicle away.

Traffic along State Street was reduced to one way until about 5 p.m. Friday. Police said the parking spaces near the crash site are expected to remain closed throughout the weekend.

The crash occurred along the parade route for the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, which kicked off Wednesday and runs through Sunday. The festival is expected to bring significant crowds to the downtown area all weekend.

The festival continues with a carnival on the west end of downtown and displays of pumpkins on the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn.

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee President Cole Regnery said the parade, which kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, will not be affected by the crash. The parade route follows Somonauk, Elm, California, State and Main streets downtown.

Regnery said he initially thought the festival committee would need to change the parade route as a result of the crash. But he said those concerns were abated by Sycamore officials.

“We were relieved to hear there were no serious injuries,” Regnery said. “The crash occurred far enough down the road that it did not impact Pumpkin Festival operations this afternoon. All scheduled activities continued on schedule.”

Sycamore police confirmed that the parade route remains unchanged as of 4:30 p.m. Friday, but the crash will affect where festivalgoers can stand to watch the parade Sunday.

A significant portion of the sidewalk near the crash site will remain closed to the public throughout the weekend. Parade viewing directly in front of the stores will be prohibited, Sycamore police said.

Regnery said the festival’s committee deferred to the police and fire departments on how to handle the situation.

“We’ll continue working with the police department and the city to prioritize everyone’s safety,” Regnery said.

This story was updated at 5:20 p.m. Oct. 24, 2025, with more information from the Sycamore Police Department.