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Dwight mom, two children killed in accident

Nov 7, 2008 | Staff | The Daily Journal

A young Dwight mom and her two small children died instantly Thursday evening when an alleged drunk driver broadsided their car on Illinois Route 47 west of Gardner.

Amanda Jahn, 27, and children Kaitlyn, 11 months; and Ryan, 3 years, 11 months; were southbound on Illinois Route 47 at 8 p.m. when their car was struck by an auto being driven west on the Gardner Blacktop by Ann M. Getz, 43, of Streator.

Grundy County Sheriff Terry Marketti said Getz failed to stop at the Illinois Route 47 stop sign and plowed into Jahn's southbound car.

Both children were ejected from the auto. They were pronounced dead at Morris Hospital at 9:30 p.m. Amanda Jahn was pronounced dead at the scene by Grundy County Coroner John Callahan.

Marketti said Getz was taken to Morris Hospital where she remained in serious condition today.

She was charged with disobeying a stop sign, driving under the influence of alcohol and felony driving under the influence of alcohol.

Marketti said the felony DUI charge results from Getz's prior history of alcohol-related traffic arrests as well as the fact that deaths occurred. He said the Grundy County State's Attorney will consider other charges.

News of the tragedy stunned the village of Dwight, where the young family was revered.

"They're a nice, young family. The kind of people who are pillars of the community," said Sean Hogan of Hogan/Walker John Deere, where Josh Jahn, Amanda's husband and the father of Kaitlyn and Ryan, worked in the dealership's parts department. Josh Jahn is also a member of Dwight's volunteer fire department.

Hogan said news of the loss has struck the dealership like a death in the family. Hogan said the couple had no other children. Funeral home selection is pending, the coroner's office said.