Olney Woman Dies In Crash

Patsy J. Witte, 69, of Olney was fatally injured Tuesday evening about 6:14 in a traffic crash on the Mt. Erie blacktop in Edwards County.

According to Illinois State Police District 19, troopers investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash on the Illinois Route 161 Extension (Edwards Co Rd 1800N) approximately one mile west of Illinois Route 130, involving a truck-tractor pulling a semi-trailer and a sport utility vehicle (SUV).

The preliminary traffic crash investigation indicated that the driver of the 2000 Kenworth semi, Daniel H. Greifzu, 30, of West Salem, was attempting to back the vehicle into a private driveway on the south side of Edwards Co Rd 1800N, and was occupying both lanes of travel.

Witte, the driver of the SUV, which was traveling eastbound on the county road, failed to recognize the semi-trailer was positioned in the eastbound lane, ISP stated. The front of the 2001 Ford Explorer SUV struck the left side of the semi-trailer.

Witte was pronounced dead at the scene by the Edwards County Coroner. Greifzu was ticketed for improper backing.

An Illinois State Police accident reconstruction officer and District 12 commercial vehicle enforcement officer was summoned to the scene to assist with the investigation. State Police were also assisted at the scene by the Edwards County Coroner, Edwards County Sheriff’s Dept, West Salem Police Dept, West Salem Fire Dept, West Salem Ambulance Service and the Edwards County Ambulance Service.

Daily Republican Register (Mt. Carmel, IL) – Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Patsy Witte, 69, of Olney died Tuesday February 9, 2011, west of West Salem, due to a traffic accident.  Burial in Marion Cemetery northwest of West Salem, Illinois.

 Mrs. Witte was born November 2, 1941, in Olney, the daughter of Ralph and Thelma (Wyatt) Bowen. She married James Allen 'Jim' Witte on June 6, 1959, at Marion Christian Church. He survives.

She was a dietary manager at Oakview Heights in Mt. Carmel, and was a member of DMA (Dietary Managers association) She was a member of Zion United Methodist Church of West Salem, United Methodist Women's Group and Pretty Woman Red Hatters of West Salem.

Mrs. Witte is survived by her husband, Jim, of Olney; one daughter, Charlotte (Rogers) Shelby, of Albion, three sons, James Jr. (Deanna) Witte, of West Salem, Chris (Julie) Witte, of Owensville, IN, and Russell (Kristie) Witte, of LaSalle: two sisters, Mary Ann (Leon) Langston, of Elizabethtown, TN., and Nancy (Edwin) Goan, of Morristown, TN; nine grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Thelma Bowen, and twin daughters, Patricia Ann and Cynthia.

Published in the Olney Daily Mail (IL)