An Illinois State Police trooper has died in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop south of Springfield.
State Police Director Hiram Grau says Trooper Kyle Deatherage was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting that traffic stop along northbound Interstate 55 at mile marker 62. Deatherage was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident forced the closure of the interstate north of Litchfield for several hours.
Deatherage worked out of State Police District 18 as a motorcycle officer, and had been a trooper since 2009. He is survived by his wife Sarah and two young children. He was 32.
