DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly regretfully announces the line-of-duty death of ISP District 15 (Downers Grove) Trooper Gerald Ellis.

This morning, March 30^th, 2019, at approximately 3:25 a.m., Trooper Gerald Ellis, #6038, was on-duty in his squad car traveling home on I-94 westbound near milepost 16.75 in Green Oaks, when a wrong-way driver, who was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes, struck Trooper Ellis head on. Trooper Ellis was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries. At approximately 4:04 a.m. Trooper Ellis succumbed to his injuries.

“While the men and women of the Illinois State Police are still grieving our recent loss, it is with profound heartache and unfathomable sadness that we inform you of the death of another fallen trooper, Trooper Gerald Ellis. Trooper Ellis laid down his life while protecting the citizens of this state. We are asking the public to respectfully give consideration to the family of Trooper Ellis and the ISP while we continue to process and work through this tragedy,” stated Acting Director Brendan Kelly.

Trooper Ellis was 36 years old and an 11-year veteran of the Illinois State Police District 15 in Downers Grove. 

Additional information will be released once it becomes available.

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