Illinois trooper killed in crash remembered at funeral
Posted April 05, 2019 7:00 am
GRAYSLAKE, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois state trooper who was killed by a wrong-way driver has been remembered as a loving husband and father and dedicated law enforcement officer.
Hundreds gathered Friday to remember Trooper Gerald Ellis at a funeral in Grayslake. The 36-year-old died early Saturday when his squad car was struck by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 94. He is the third state trooper to die in a traffic crash so far this year.
Ellis' wife Stacy and his daughters Kaylee and Zoe sat in the first row at the ceremony. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker spoke, saying Ellis was the type of person who "kindness inspires you to live better."
Ellis was an 11-year state police veteran with District 15 in Downers Grove. He was a U.S. military veteran and had a wife and two children.
Visitation was held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Grayslake, Ill. for Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis. Ellis died March 30 when Dan Davies, 44, of Calumet City, was driving in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-94 and slammed into Ellis' squad car near Green Oaks, east of Libertyville, authorities said. Ellis, an Antioch resident, was 36. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
Visitation was held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Grayslake, Ill. for Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis. Ellis died March 30 when Dan Davies, 44, of Calumet City, was driving in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-94 and slammed into Ellis' squad car near Green Oaks, east of Libertyville, authorities said. Ellis, an Antioch resident, was 36. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. Ellis is one of three troopers killed this year while performing their duties on state highways. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
Visitation was held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Grayslake, Ill. for Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis. Ellis died March 30 when Dan Davies, 44, of Calumet City, was driving in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-94 and slammed into Ellis' squad car near Green Oaks, east of Libertyville, authorities said. Ellis, an Antioch resident, was 36. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
A visitation for Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis is held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Grayslake, Ill. Ellis, 36, was traveling home in his squad car on Interstate 94 in Lake County when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. His funeral is set for Friday in Grayslake. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
Visitation was held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Grayslake, Ill. for Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis. Ellis died March 30 when Dan Davies, 44, of Calumet City, was driving in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-94 and slammed into Ellis' squad car near Green Oaks, east of Libertyville, authorities said. Ellis, an Antioch resident, was 36. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP)
The Associated Press
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