A tragic incident in Waterman, Illinois, claimed the life of a DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy late Thursday night when their squad car was rear-ended by a Kenworth truck. The crash took place around 10:40 p.m. on Illinois Route 23, just south of Perry Road, according to statements from the Illinois State Police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
At the time of the accident, the deputy, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was seated inside their Ford Explorer squad car, parked on the right shoulder of the road. For reasons still under investigation, the truck veered off the road and collided with the parked squad car.
Despite being rushed to Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb in critical condition, the deputy succumbed to their life-threatening injuries and passed away. The driver of the Kenworth truck, in contrast, did not require transportation to the hospital.
The Illinois State Police expressed their condolences and offered support to the family and friends of the deceased deputy, as well as to their colleagues at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, following the tragic event. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash and why the truck departed the roadway is ongoing.