MORRIS, Ill. – New details have been released in a fatal two-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Chicago man Saturday afternoon in unincorporated Grundy County, with investigators announcing the driver of the other vehicle will be cited.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at approximately 3:09 p.m. Saturday, July 25, in the 3000 block of North Route 47 near Morris.
Investigators said a 2011 Buick Enclave, driven by Joshua Ghantous, 27, of Bloomington, was traveling northbound when it allegedly crossed the centerline into the southbound lane, where it collided head-on with a 2020 Honda HR-V driven by Adam Gnutek, 35, of Chicago.
Authorities said the impact caused the Honda to overturn and come to rest on its roof in a ditch on the west side of the roadway. Gnutek was extricated by the Morris Fire Protection District and transported to Morris Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead by the Grundy County Coroner’s Office.
Ghantous and his front-seat passenger, a 25-year-old Bloomington woman, suffered serious injuries and were flown to Loyola University Medical Center for treatment. Two juvenile passengers riding in child safety seats sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to Morris Hospital.
Witnesses told investigators they observed the Buick gradually drift across the centerline immediately before the collision.
Following an accident reconstruction investigation, the sheriff’s office announced that Joshua Ghantous will be issued citations for allegedly improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Grundy County Coroner’s Office.
