IL Officer Seriously Injured in Head-On Fatal Crash

The 45-year-old officer was flown to a St. Louis hospital with serious injuries, while the truck's driver, who reportedly crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head on with the officer's cruiser, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An Illinois police officer was seriously injured and a 33-year-old pickup driver died in a head-on crash Thursday morning that closed Illinois 111 in Madison County near New Poag Road.

The crash occurred at about 8:15 a.m. Thursday and involved a Pontoon Beach, IL, police car, police said.

The 45-year-old officer was flown to a St. Louis hospital with serious injuries, while the truck's driver, Daniel Bell, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness told police that the white Ford Ranger crossed into the oncoming lane as the road crested an overpass and collided with the Pontoon Beach officer's car. Police said the truck became engulfed in flames, reports the Belleville News-Democrat.

The unidentified officer has been with the Pontoon Beach Police Department for a year and served with the South Roxana Police Department for five years. He was conscious and talking after the crash, police said, and is at a St. Louis area hospital in serious condition with broken bones in his legs and other injuries. His family is with him, said Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr.

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