An Illinois State Police trooper was killed whereas on obligation in a downstate car crash Friday afternoon.
Trooper Corey Thompsen, 28, was fatally injured driving a bike on the intersection of County Highway 1300 East and East Leverett Highway in downstate Somer Township in Champaign County, state police director Brendan Kelly mentioned in a Saturday assertion.
Thompsen, who was ending a site visitors enforcement element, was touring east on Leverett Highway, approaching 1300 East just earlier than 3:45 p.m. as one other motorist, Helen Torres, 32, of Thomasboro, was driving south in a truck approaching the identical intersection.
Torres stopped on the intersection however struck Thompsen’s bike as she pulled into the street, in response to Kelly. A witness supplied help till paramedics arrived. Thompsen was taken to an area hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless at 4:32 p.m., Kelly mentioned. Torres was additionally taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening accidents.
Torres was cited for failure to yield the precise of method at a cease intersection and for having an expired driver’s license, Kelly mentioned.
Thompsen labored as an officer with state police for practically 5 years, and was assigned to the Particular Operations Group Deadly 4 staff, Kelly mentioned. He’s survived by his spouse Chelsea, mom Susan, father Steve and brothers.
“It is a unhappy second. We’re hurting. Corey’s brothers and sisters in motor enforcement, Particular Operation Group, Troop 7, patrol, the Zone, Vermilion Metropolitan Enforcement Group and throughout ISP are hurting,” Kelly mentioned in a press release. “Corey’s household is hurting badly immediately.”
“That is the primary, and I hope the final, trooper who I personally administered the oath of an ISP officer to that I’ve misplaced in a line of obligation dying. The primary and I hope the final trooper who I’ve seen in the beginning of their watch and on the finish of their watch,” he added.
rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
