Morotcycle crash victim was Deerfield firefighter
The 39-year-old Palatine man who was killed Sunday when his motorcycle collided with a car near the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg was a veteran of the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District.
Dean Schroeder had served on the department for the last 15 years, after starting his career working part-time for Public Safety Services Inc., which provides ambulance service to the Rosemont Public Safety Department.
Deerfield fire officials said they were reeling from the news that one of their firefighter paramedics would not be returning.
Schroeder was one of 29 firefighter paramedics in his department. He was married and the father of three children.
"He was an excellent firefighter paramedic, and one who would constantly volunteer to take on new responsibilities," said Fire Chief James Quinn.
Schroeder was a member of the department's technical rescue team, which specializes in rescues made in high rises and below ground. He also led CPR training for village, school board and park district officials.
Local school children knew Schroeder, Quinn added, in his role promoting public education and fire safety for children.
"It's a definite loss for the department," Quinn said, "and for the community."
Visitation will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home, 8025 W. Golf Road, Niles. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Area fire departments plan to make their final salute to their colleague, during a traditional "walk through" ceremony, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire protection district covers the communities of Deerfield, Bannockburn, a portion of Riverwoods and areas of unincorporated Lake County.
Schroeder died Sunday after his eastbound motorcycle collided with a westbound Hyundai on Higgins Road near Mall Drive. It appears a 30-year-old Ohio woman driving the Hyundai made a U-turn in front of the bike while the two vehicles had a green light at Mall Drive, police said. They continue to investigate the crash and have not issued any citations. The condition of the car's driver has not been released, but police have said her injuries were not life-threatening.