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Funeral held for Illinois trooper struck during traffic stop

WARREN, Ill. (AP) - Hundreds of mourners gathered in a northern Illinois high school gymnasium Wednesday to remember an Illinois State Police trooper who died after she was struck during a traffic stop.

With rows of police officers in dress uniforms at Warren High School, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story was remembered as a warm family woman, brave public servant and devoted animal rescuer. The mourners heard Gov. J.B. Pritzker lament that Jones-Story, 34, was the third trooper killed this year while performing their duties on state highways.

"This is the second time since I took office that I've been asked to eulogize a member of the Illinois State Police. Before the week is over, I will again speak to the life and death of a third trooper as well," Pritzker said. "And I promise, I will carry the burden of action that our collective grief conveys every day of my administration."

Trooper Christopher Lambert, 34, was killed in January while responding to a traffic crash on Interstate 294 near Northbrook. And Trooper Gerald 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.

Jones-Story died Thursday along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. The 12-year veteran was inspecting a truck she had pulled to the shoulder of the road when another semitrailer hit her, along with the squad car and the truck she'd stopped.

Jones-Story joined the Illinois State Police as a cadet in 2007 and met her husband, Master Sgt. Robert Story, at a crash scene. They lived on a farm where they took in rescue animals, and not just dogs.

"They have now rescued two pot-bellied pigs, four horses, four donkeys and a couple more dogs," said friend Sharon White. "This is what made Brooke happy. She was dedicated to saving the animals who needed the most love and attention."

Speakers also noted Jones-Story's devotion to her family and friends, and her love for Disney movies, the Chicago Cubs and CrossFit.

Illinois State Troopers line up next to the hearse during the funeral for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, center, and Illinois State Police Acting Director Brendan Kelly, center right, speak during the funeral for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Illinois State Police honor guard members react after the funeral for Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
An Illinois State Police trooper presents the urn of fallen Trooper Brooke Jones-Story during her funeral at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Illinois State Police troopers salute as the urn of fallen Trooper Brooke Jones-Story is placed into a hearse during her funeral at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Law enforcement vehicles representing departments from around the country participate in the funeral procession for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story near Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
A boy rides his bike along a street lined with law enforcement vehicles before the funeral for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Signs of the Warren Methodist Church and other neighborhood churches honor Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
Family members of fallen Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, from right, her husband Robert Story Jr., her mother Carol Jones and her sister Lindsey Jones, each hold an American flag during her funeral at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Alex Vucha, Robert Story Jr., husband to fallen Illinois State Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, right, and her mother Carol Jones, wait to leave the funeral for trooper Jones-Story at the Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Alex Vucha via AP) The Associated Press
Timothy Nelson, of Oak Creek, Wis., stands with an American flag before the funeral for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Nelson said he has attended ten such funerals in the past month. Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
People line up to attend the funeral for Illinois State Police Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Alex Vucha, a lone Illinois State Trooper stands their post at the funeral for trooper Brooke Jones-Story at the Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Alex Vucha via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Alex Vucha, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at the funeral for Illinois State Trooper Brooke Jones-Story at the Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Alex Vucha via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Alex Vucha, Illinois State Troopers stand in formation at the funeral for trooper Brooke Jones-Story at the Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Alex Vucha via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Alex Vucha, the Illinois State Trooper honor guard salute the urn containing the ashes of trooper Brooke Jones-Story during her funeral at the Warren High School in Warren, Ill., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Trooper Jones-Story died Thursday in the crash along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport. She was a 12-year veteran of the state police. (Alex Vucha via AP) The Associated Press
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