Highway Dedicated To Fallen Illinois State Trooper

LAKE FOREST, IL — Family, friends and former colleagues of Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald Ellis gathered at Townline Community Park in Lake Forest Monday morning for a ceremony dedicating a stretch of Interstate 94 in honor of the fallen trooper. Ellis, 36, of Antioch, after he was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver around 3:30 a.m. March 30 on I-94 in Green Oaks while on duty and on his way home, according to state police.

"Trooper Ellis served the residents of Illinois with integrity, service and pride and he will be remembered as a hard worked with a wonderful sense of humor, who was always willing to lend a helping hand," Brendan Kelly, acting director of Illinois State Police said.

Ellis spent 11 years with Illinois State Police and was also a veteran of the United States military, according to ISP. He was survived by his wife, two children, brother and parents.

A half-mile portion of Interstate 94 between mile marker 16.5 and 17.0 was officially named the Trooper Gerald W. Ellis Memorial Highway.

"From here on out, this stretch of highway will service as a great reminder of the ultimate sacrifice Trooper Ellis made, and the dedication and honor with which he served the people of Illinois," Kelly said.

The resolution to dedicate the highway to Ellis was initiated and sponsored by state Sen. Melinda Bush, a Grayslake Democrat, and State Rep. Joyce Mason, a Democrat from Gurnee. They both attended the Oct. 21 dedication ceremony, along with Green Oaks Mayor Bernard Wysocki, members of Illinois Troopers Lodge 41 and senior ISP officials.

The 44-year-old Calumet City man who authorities said was driving the vehicle that fatally struck Ellis' squad car racked up dozens of citations and suspensions for driving without a license, DUI and other offenses. The man, who also died in the crash, has not valid license since at least 1996, records showed.

Donations may be made to the Ellis family by visiting the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation website, or via U.S. mail to: Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 8168, Springfield, Illinois, 62791, according to state police.

Related:

• Where To Send Donations For Family Of ISP Trooper Ellis
• Illinois State Trooper Killed By Wrong-Way Driver On I-94: Police
• Driver Killed In Crash With State Trooper Identified
• Driver Who Killed Illinois State Trooper Had No License, 70 Tickets