Fatal Car Accident in Fulton County

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By Jeff Muniz

Story Published: Oct 4, 2009 at 8:15 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 4, 2009 at 11:38 PM CDT

A two car crash in Fulton County Sunday claims the life of a Peoria Heights man while sending three other people to area hospitals.

Police say 79-year-old Richard Panus failed to stop at the Route 9 intersection while traveling on County Highway two around 9:30 Sunday morning.

Panus died at the scene after a truck traveling on Route 9 smashed into his driver's side door.

The passenger in the truck was life-flighted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center while the driver, Franklin Root, was also taken there by ambulance.

The passenger in Panus' car was taken by ambulance to Graham Hospital in Canton.

Their conditions are not known as police will only say they suffered multiple injuries.

Thursday, Feb 25 at 7:21 AM Ronald Alan Panus wrote ...

Richard Lee Panus was my father. He was a human being. I am so sorry for all involved. Making fun of my dad or any other aged individual is simply foolish. Your turn is coming.

Thursday, Oct 8 at 9:13 AM DEANNA wrote ...

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS TALKING TO ROFLMAO BUT SINCE YOU INSIST. I'M NOT SAYING YOUR AN INDIOT BECAUSE YOU PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF SOMEONE. YOU ARE AN IDIOT BECAUSE OF THE CALOUS WAY YOU DISREGARD HUMAN LIFE WHATEVER THE AGE. HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF? PROBABLY NOT!! OH, BY THE WAY, I NOTICE YOU DIDN'T SIGN YOUR NAME EITHER!!!! DEANNA

Wednesday, Oct 7 at 2:20 PM roflmao wrote ...

I'm the idiot. I didnt pull out in front of someone or go through a stop sign & cause an accident like this old goat did.

Wednesday, Oct 7 at 10:37 AM DEANNA wrote ...

THIS IS TO LOL...YOU ARE AN INDIOT. I HAVE KNOWN MR. PANUS AND HIS FAMILY FOR OVER 40 YEARS, HE WILL BE LOVED AND MISSED. MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND THE SURVIVORS OF THE CRASH. AS FAR AS THE COMMENT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, YOU ARE STILL AN IDIOT. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM, I WILL ALWAYS GIVE HIM THE RESPECT HE DESERVES AS HE IS OUR NATIONS PRESIDENT. MAYBE IDIOTS SHOULD BE PUT TO SLEEP. I'M NOT AFRAID TO SIGN MY NAME TO MY COMMENTS, WHY ARE YOU A COWARD!! DEANNA

Wednesday, Oct 7 at 4:40 AM Omg wrote ...

A person has died & a family is grieving, grow up! If you don't have anything nice to say dont say it. Keep your irrational thoughts to yourself. One day you will be old & you will not be laughing. Kids these days are so rude.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 10:17 PM lol wrote ...

remove my comments. Ever heard of freedom of Speech if they remove my comments then they must remove everyones...or is this a communist country...might as well be with a Ngr in office.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 9:13 PM concerned wrote ...

one day you will be older too lol,and your day for the younger people to talk about you. have a little heart and god bless you. you need it. dont listen to fools like lol

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 6:08 PM Meg wrote ...

PLEASE, PLEASE REMOVE THE COMMENTS SIGNED LOL. They are extremely offensive. He/she/it is just trying to get attention but there is a time and a place...and this isn't it! My prayers are with all involved withe the accident.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 5:01 PM yo lol wrote ...

It was only a matter of time before god & the grim reaper took the old fool's life anyway.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 3:15 PM rofl wrote ...

Oh my, didnt realize some old coot meant so much to so many losers.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 1:41 PM kh wrote ...

Dear LOL. You're lucky i dont know who you are!

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 1:38 PM kh wrote ...

i just want to say to anyone who wants to say anything negative about this situation that YOU TOO deserve to die. This was my uncles father...NONE of you know the details...So dont ASSUME..Have a little more respect~~~!!!

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 11:55 AM WTNext wrote ...

OMGosh they do exist. They just hide behind initials like 'lol' Lowsy Old Loser! He or she is to stupid to realize they came from someone who is probably now old. RIP Mr Panus and I am glad he no longers has to deal with Aholes like "lol"

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 8:24 AM OMGosh wrote ...

I can't believe lol is saying those things. I didn't really think those kind of people existed...

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 6:46 AM traumajunkie8 wrote ...

Should get your facts straight. It was not a large grain truck, it involved two pickup trucks, and I can understand, seeing the corn on the side of the intersection, how someone unfamiliar with the area could miss the stop sign. lol one of these days you will be old and more senile than you are now, maybe someone will take you up on your ideas and ship you off to a home.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 12:44 AM lol wrote ...

I know why the accident occurred...he crapped his diaper, had bad vision or his dentures fell out & he was distracted. And you fools say im the one ignorant...atleast i pay attention to the road noobs.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 12:39 AM lol wrote ...

Since when does the stupidity of one foolish old man make me an attention seeker. I speak the truth flat out. As for driving exams the state refuses to revoke old peoples licenses cause the fact their geezers ...ive seen that happen before.

Monday, Oct 5 at 6:57 PM tyler wrote ...

i seen the truck and it was in the corn feild

Monday, Oct 5 at 6:56 PM C.M. wrote ...

Please quit commenting on lol... He is obviously just an idiot looking for attention. Think about the poor old man who lost his life, and pray for his family. I knew Mr. Panus and he was a nice old guy who will be missed by his friends and family.

Monday, Oct 5 at 5:12 PM Angie wrote ...

Obviously LOL is a youngster and thinks he will never be old. Senior citizens still have to take driver's test and eye exams in order to keep their license. LOL just doesnt seem to realize that this is not necessarially an "age-related" accident. I suppose LOL does not have grandparents?? I suppose LOL will never grow up.

Monday, Oct 5 at 4:58 PM peteypie wrote ...

well lol, I think that there are more punks out there, like you causing accidents, either by lack of proper training on driving or constantly on their phones. An accident is an accident, at any age.

Monday, Oct 5 at 4:56 PM carguy wrote ...

lol You are ignorant "got owned" grow up and for heavins sake SHUT UP!!!!

Monday, Oct 5 at 4:21 PM lol wrote ...

your discriminating against my right to freedom of speech. Old people are cenille...that's all there is too it & useless.

Monday, Oct 5 at 2:47 PM The mob wrote ...

well, lets put a name on this judgemental crowd. They are ageists. They are discriminating against people because of their age.This doesn't suprise me because their parents probably thought,"why not kill 'lol' because 'lol' is uncordinated and is wasting our time." 'lol' is no smarter than a clod of dirt. actually, dirt is smarter because illogic doesn't vomit from it's mouth like it does 'lol's mouth.its like saying "lets petition to kill lol because of the stupid comments" What????

Monday, Oct 5 at 1:14 PM Sad comment on society wrote ...

Obviously the dredges of scoiety have nothing better to do that berate and belittle elders. I guess you are making up for some deficiencies in your own lives...were you all beaten by bullies as children?

Monday, Oct 5 at 12:54 PM mos wrote ...

Atleast when i get old i'll have enough sense to quit driving & use a taxi.

Monday, Oct 5 at 12:53 PM lol wrote ...

Why should old people live? Their a nuisance & a burden to society. They slow up lines in stores,drive slow,cause wrecks. After a certain age you should just be stripped of a drivers license & shipped to a home.

Monday, Oct 5 at 11:02 AM flfalcons wrote ...

lol you are rude. what would you have done if this was your grandpa or dad? would you want someone to say that about your family

Monday, Oct 5 at 10:58 AM marg wrote ...

People make mistakes at all ages. My heart goes out to the family.

Monday, Oct 5 at 8:20 AM rudepeople wrote ...

lol...that is just horrible that you would say that! Someone should remove that comment. Nobody deserves to die because they an older driver.

Monday, Oct 5 at 7:44 AM ScenicDriver wrote ...

I saw the accident with my mom just after it happened, it looked pretty awful. There was no grain truck just one truck with a topper and Panus' truck was a newer dodge or chevy model, it was turned around and backed into a corn field on the corner and the front was almost unrecognizable. I pray for the recovery of those left alive and my thoughts are with the surviving family of Mr. Panus.

Monday, Oct 5 at 6:56 AM mos wrote ...

So there is an age limit on who can go on Spoon River Drive?? i didn't know that-You might get "old" someday!!

Monday, Oct 5 at 6:28 AM FultonCountyFamily wrote ...

Rest in peace Mr. Panus. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. They also go out to the family of the survivors. We hope those that survived make a full recovery.

Monday, Oct 5 at 1:28 AM lol wrote ...

Old people shouldnt drive! Doofus got owned!

Sunday, Oct 4 at 11:21 PM Nichole wrote ...

It wasn't just a truck. It was a large grain truck.

Sunday, Oct 4 at 9:38 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Thoughts and prayers!

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