FREEPORT, Ill. — An Illinois state trooper was killed in a crash near Freeport, Ill., Thursday.
Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, 34, was inspecting a semi on the side of westbound U.S. Route 20, just west of state Route 75 around 12:30 p.m. Officials said a truck tractor veered off the road and struck her squad car. Jones-Story was outside her vehicle at the time and she was fatally struck.
Illinois State Police mourn the loss of Trooper Brooke Jones-Story #5966.
She was struck by a truck tractor semi trailer while outside of her squad car on a traffic stop on US Route 20 near Freeport, IL.
Rest peacefully. We will never forget you.
End of Watch 3-28-19 pic.twitter.com/8WUNBmRW6S
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) March 28, 2019
Jones-Story pulled over a semi on U.S. Route 20 near state Route 75 when her vehicle was hit by another semi. Her vehicle reportedly burst into flames upon impact.
Jones-Story was a 12-year veteran of Illinois State Police District 16.
She is the 15th trooper of 2019 to be hit by a vehicle while stopped on the side of the road, and the second fatality. Trooper Christopher Lambert, 34, was killed in January.
#BREAKING: Traffic is backed up in the westbound lanes of US 20 near the Rt. 75 Freeport exit for a serious crash. Illinois State Police are investigating and we have crews on the way. (Photo: Beth Surrarrer Hitz) pic.twitter.com/Uydo3DW0bT
— Eyewitness News WTVO/WQRF (@MyStateline) March 28, 2019
Thursday also marks six years since the death of Trooper James Sauter who was killed when a truck slammed into his squad car on I-294 near Northbrook.
