Man Charged With Reckless Driving In Former DuPage County Firefighter's Death

BURR RIDGE, IL — A Michigan man has been charged with reckless driving in the June death of Ed Switalski, 55 Switalski, who had recently moved to Michigan to be near his daughters and work with the Comstock Fire Department, spent years serving Burr Ridge, Willowbrook, and other nearby communities as part of the Pleasantview Fire Protection District.

On June 14 Switalski had responded to an accident on I-94 in southwestern Michigan and was standing at the site of the crash when Brandon Clevenger, 24, of Springfield, Michigan, lost control of his car and struck Switalski. According to Chicago Tribune, Switalski and other firefighters were just about to leave the site of the crash when Clevenger's car hit Switalski.

Before moving to Michigan, Switalski had spent three decades serving Burr Ridge and other DuPage County areas with the Pleasantview Fire Protection District, eventually becoming fire chief. Switalski had been nominated as Fire Chief of the Year in Michigan before his death and won the distinction in July, according to mlive Media Group. mlive reports that the president of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs, Michael O'Brian, said in a statement that Switalksi was a "visionary leader who was developing firefighters and leaders every day."

Clevenger has yet to appear in court for his charges in Ed Switalski's death.

>>Image via Pixabay