CHASTEEN, Peggy - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

A former Attica woman died in an accident on U.S. 24, three and one half miles west of Logansport Saturday, July 4, and four Covington residents were involved in an accident that killed a 24-year-old Danville, Illinois woman Sunday, July 5.

  In the Saturday accident, Mrs. Diane Phillips Gerard died of a fractured skull. She was a 1980 graduate of Attica High School and had been living in Logansport. She was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, Gary. He survived the crash.

  According to police reports, Peggy Chasteen of Rushville, driving eastbound, lost control on the wet pavement and was struck broadside by the westbound Gerard vehicle. Mrs. Chasteen died of a crushed chest and internal injuries. A passenger in the Chasteen car, 21-year-old Jean Bussberg of Rushville, died of a broken neck. Their car caught fire on impact and the two had to be pulled from the vehicle.

  In the Sunday accident, 24-year-old Suzanne B. Wheaton of Danville died of massive head and internal injuries. Her car crossed the centerline and hit head-on a pick-up truck driven by Michael S. Hegg, 16, of Covington. The accident happened on U.S. 136 near Benson Chapel, about four miles west of Covington.

  Hegg was hospitalized as was two passengers, Sarah Harden, 19, of Covington, and Pam Riley, 23, Covington. Another passenger in the truck, Billy Booe, 22, Covington, was treated and released.

  A witness who had been behind the Wheaton auto told police she had been driving erratically. The section of highway was closed about two hours in order to clear out the wreckage. – thanks to S