Sheriff: Ex-deputy hid real cause of fatal crash

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said Tuesday he and other members of his office were "betrayed" by a former deputy who concealed the cause of 2007 crash that killed the deputy's wife.

It was only after Drew Pranke was charged with driving on a revoked license in Lindenhurst last weekend, Curran said, that it was discovered Pranke had marijuana in his system at the time of the fatal crash.

Curran said Pranke, who retired last May, disrespected his badge and fellow officers through the cover-up.

"The fact that somebody in our business would be smoking dope and lying to us about it is beyond belief," Curran said. "He betrayed all of us and all of the citizens of Lake County."

Pranke, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, was driving on Interstate 80 in Jasper County, Iowa on April 14, 2007 when his car went out of control and flipped over.

Pranke's wife, Susan, was killed in the crash, and Pranke was seriously injured. The couple's 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the crash was originally believed to be a blown tire, and Curran said the sheriff's office rallied around their stricken comrade.

"People donated their own sick time to cover Drew through his lengthy rehabilitation," Curran said. "Throughout all of it, he was silent and refused to live up to his responsibility to be honest."

After weeks in a hospital in Iowa and weeks more in a hospital and rehabilitation center, Pranke returned to work in the detective division Aug. 7, 2007, Curran said.

Pranke's health never returned to the level required for him to act as a deputy sheriff and he retired last year, Curran said.

After Pranke was arrested in Lindenhurst, Curran said, his office investigated and learned Pranke had been charged with driving under the influence of marijuana in connection with the fatal crash.

Blood tests performed on Pranke and his wife revealed both had marijuana in their systems, Curran said, but Iowa officials never informed his office of those findings.

Iowa state patrol officials were not available for comment Tuesday evening.

Curran said Pranke pleaded guilty to DUI in Iowa on Aug. 13, 2008 and was sentenced to two days in jail, fined and his license was revoked.

Curran said he does not believe the conviction will threaten Pranke's eligibility for a pension, nor does he believe it will impact any pending criminal cases.

He said he was making the matter public to demonstrate his commitment to openness in his administration.

"We have no tolerance for employees getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol," Curran said. "Had the Iowa state patrol been forthcoming with this information, I would have filed administrative charges against Pranke."