Car accident kills Illinois police officer and K9 partner

A tragic car accident occurred in Illinois recently between a police cruiser carrying an officer with his K9 partner and another vehicle. The Illinois police officer and his dog were killed in the car accident. The other driver was also injured, and no formal charges have yet been made.

Last Wednesday night, the police officer and his K9 partner Draco were on I-55 in downstate Illinois. They were parked in the median turnaround just north of Route 23 in their marked police cruiser. Another vehicle, heading north, ran into the cruiser, but the report does not state which part of the cruiser the vehicle hit.

Both the 29-year-old officer, who was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and Draco were killed resulting from the accident, and the driver of the other vehicle had to be taken to an area hospital. Details of the other driver’s condition have not yet been released. The accident is still being investigated, so it is not yet known whether alcohol or speeding were factors in the crash.

From the information given in the report, it would seem that the other driver is at fault for the car accident; however, it has not yet been proven, and no former charges have been filed. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the officer’s family may be eligible to sue for wrongful death. If the Illinois lawsuit is successful, the family could be compensated for emotional distress as well as funeral costs due to the tragic loss of their loved one.

Source: Fox News, Illinois police officer, K-9 partner killed in crash, No author, Oct. 31, 2013