Coroner proposes safety measures in wake of Jahn deaths

All the warning bells, lights, and whistles in the world will not prevent some traffic accidents, notes Grundy County Coroner John Callahan. “Like at a railroad crossing, with gates and all, and people still crash through them,” Callahan said today of his and the Coroner's Death Review Committee's highway safety recommendations following the recent triple fatality at the Illinois 47-Gardner Road intersection. “There are some situations in which you can have all the safety features in place, all the airbags in the vehicles. But, some collisions occur due to irresponsibility on someone's part, and nothing's going to make a difference.” All drivers must be held accountable for their actions - or lack thereof, he stressed. “Some situations come down to where it is the driver's responsibility only,” Callahan added. The recommendations are in connection with the two-car accident Nov. 6 that claimed the lives of Amanda Jahn, 27, of Dwight, a former Morris resident, and her two children, Ryan Jahn, 3, and Kaitlyn Jahn, 11 months. The crash occurred when Ann Marie Getz, 43, of Streator, disobeyed the stop sign at the Illinois 47-Gardner Road intersection and smashed into the driver's side of the Jahn vehicle. Getz remains in the Grundy County Jail today on $100,000 cash bond on four citations of aggravated driving under the influence. She was alone in her car at the time. Although reconstruction of the accident scene is not yet completed, Callahan said his committee's review ends this segment of the death investigation. He said Amanda Jahn and her son, Ryan, died of multiple injuries, while Kaitlyn died of craniocerebral and cervical spinal injuries. All three deaths were ruled accidental. Callahan and the committee are forwarding four recommendations on the intersection to County Highway Engineer Craig Cassem and the Illinois Department of Transportation. One suggestion calls for a flashing yellow light on the stop ahead sign on Gardner Road. The second is for a flashing red light on the stop signs at the intersection. The third mentions rumble strips on the Gardner Road pavement, while the final one is for additional lighting at the intersection. “We're not saying these recommendations will make a difference,” Callahan said. “Also, I can't say if these recommendations had been in place, the accident would not have occurred. It's like any other intersection with a traffic sign. Some drive by every day and don't see it. Others live by it.” He stressed these are recommendations only, based on his investigation. Any death investigation includes the coroner's responsibility to look into ways to possibly avoid the loss of life or injury in the future, Callahan said.