Fatal Head-On Crash On Route 47 In Morris Leads To Traffic Citations For Surviving Motorist: Grundy County

MORRIS, IL — Grundy County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Paul Clampitt has issued a press release surrounding a daytime fatal crash along Route 47 in unincorporated Morris over the weekend.

Saturday's crash happened at 3:09 p.m. in the 3000 block of north Route 47.

The surviving driver, 27-year-old Joshua Ghantous of Bloomington, was driving a silver 2011 Buick Enclave while the driver who died, 35-year-old Adam Gnutek of Chicago, was driving a gray 2020 Honda HR-V.

According to Grundy County, Ghantous' vehicle was traveling northbound on Illinois Route 47, crossing the center line and entering the southbound lane, where it collided head-on with Gnutek's vehicle.

The impact caused Gnutek's vehicle to overturn and come to rest on its roof in the ditch on the west side of the road, police said.

Gnutek was extricated from his vehicle by the Morris Fire Department. He sustained critical injuries and was transported to Morris Hospital, where he later died.

Ghantous and his front-seat passenger, a 25-year-old woman from Bloomington, both sustained serious injuries and were transported to Morris Hospital. Both were later flown by helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center for treatment, police said.

Two children, both in car seats, were transported by ambulance to Morris Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the sheriff's agency, witnesses told investigators they saw Ghantous's vehicle gradually drift across the center line into oncoming traffic immediately before the collision.

Grundy County noted that Joshua Ghantous will be issued citations for improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The investigation will continue between the Sheriff’s Office, the Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Grundy County Coroner’s Office, Clampitt said.