Lake Bluff woman cited after child drives her vehicle into restaurant

A Lake Bluff woman was charged with endangering the life and health of a child after one of her children drove her running SUV into a restaurant near unincorporated Knollwood while she was picking up food.

Stephanie Burke, 48, left two 9-year-olds and a 6-year-old child in her 2007 Acura SUV with the engine running while she ran into Scooters restaurant on Route 176 near Waukegan Road about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Christopher Thompson said.

While Burke was in the restaurant, one of the 9-year-olds climbed into the driver’s seat, put the vehicle in drive, and plowed through a wall of the building, Thompson said.

A 40-year-old woman suffered a minor hip injury in the accident, and was taken to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

The hot dog stand was closed Wednesday because of damage to the building. It reopened Thursday, an employee said.

Burke received a misdemeanor count of endangering the life and health of a child and a citation for leaving her running vehicle unattended. She posted a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 1, Thompson said.

“The circumstances speak for itself,” he said Friday. “We need to mindful of our children at all times.”