Crash in Morris claims 2 lives

MORRIS – Two people died in a traffic crash about 1 p.m. Friday on Route 47 in front of the Grundy County Fairgrounds, the coroner’s office said.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a car was traveling south in the northbound lanes of traffic when it struck a vehicle traveling north. The northbound vehicle was driven by 57-year-old Timothy L. Shride of Happy Valley, Oregon, and Shride’s wife was riding in the front passenger seat.

Grundy County Coroner John Callahan said Shride was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife was taken to Morris Hospital.

Callahan’s office said it appears that there was a vehicle traveling north in front of Shride and, when that vehicle swerved to avoid being hit by the wrong-way driver, Shride had no time to avoid the crash.

The southbound vehicle was driven by Sandra L. Viola, 75, of Arlington Heights, authorities said. Viola was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. She was alone in the car at the time of the crash. Callahan said Viola may have been experiencing a medical event before the crash.

The crash is being investigated by Callahan’s office and the Morris Police Department. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office is reconstructing the crash scene. Assisting agencies were Morris Fire and Ambulance and Illinois State Police.

The Grundy County Emergency Management Agency was on the scene as well, diverting traffic off of Route 47 at Nelson Road north of the Grundy County Fairgrounds and at Gore Road south of the fairgrounds.