Police Officer Critically Injured, Charged With DUI In Crash

ELGIN, IL – An off-duty Elgin police officer is in critical condition and has been charged with DUI following a crash in DeKalb County Thursday afternoon. Kenneth W. Ericson, 49, of 341 Cassidy Lane in Elgin, was taken by Lifeline helicopter to St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford due to serious injuries sustained in the collision on Glidden Road near Baseline Road at about 3:03 p.m., according to a DeKalb County Sheriff's Office report. Ericson was heading east on Baseline Road on a 2013 Kawasaki motorcycle when he allegedly failed to yield to a 2009 Toyota Camry that was northbound on Glidden Road, police said.

Ericson was ejected from the motorcycle and taken to the Rockford hospital in critical condition. Police said an investigation into the crash revealed Ericson was under the influence of alcohol, according to the police report. He was cited for driving while under the influence and failure to yield at a stop intersection.

The driver of the Camry, Mark A. Sparacino, 51, of Rochelle, was not injured in the collision.

According to Ericson's LinkedIn page,he is currently a sergeant with the Elgin Police Department. He has been with the police department for 19 years. Prior to coming to Elgin, he served a short stint as a police officer in West Chicago, according to the LinkedIn page.

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