Illinois State Police say a trooper has died after being struck on an Illinois freeway. While conducting a traffic stop Monday just after 9 a.m., Trooper Kyle Deatherage was killed when he was struck by a truck-tractor semi on I-55 at milepost 62. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Deatherage had been a member of the Illinois State Police since 2009. He was assigned to District 18 as a motorcycle officer.
The 32-year-old trooper is survived by two young children and his wife, Sarah. It has been 5 years since a state trooper died in the line of duty.
Illinois State Police Line of Duty Deaths
Total: 60
Aircraft accident: 1
Automobile accident: 13
Electrocuted: 1
Fall: 3
Gunfire: 11
Heart attack: 1
Motorcycle accident: 14
Stabbed: 1
Struck by train: 3
Struck by vehicle: 5
Vehicle pursuit: 3
Vehicular assault: 4
Recent Deaths
Trooper Kyle W. Deatherage
Illinois State Police
EOW: Monday, November 26, 2012
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Trooper Brian Carl McMillen
Illinois State Police
EOW: Sunday, October 28, 2007
Cause: Vehicular assault
Sergeant Rodney Todd Miller
Illinois State Police
EOW: Friday, May 12, 2006
Cause: Automobile accident
Master Sergeant Stanley W. Talbot
Illinois State Police
EOW: Saturday, June 23, 2001
Cause: Vehicular assault