“Fatigued” Trucker Charged With Reckless Homicide Of Illinois State Trooper
Freeport, Illinois – The truck driver police say is responsible for the death of an Illinois state trooper has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes.
According to the Stephenson County State’s Attorney’s Office, Craig Wade Dittmar, 55, was operating a tractor-trailer along U.S. 20 on March 28th at approximately 12:20 p.m. when his semi fatally struck 34-year-old Illinois State Patrol (ISP) Trooper, Brooke Jones-Story.
Jones-Story was conducting a roadside inspection of another tractor-trailer at the time of the accident.
Dittmar’s truck reportedly struck Jones-Story before striking her squad car as well.
At the time of the accident Dittmar was cited for improper lane usage and violating Scott’s Law, which requires drivers approaching emergency vehicles stopped along the roadway to “proceed with due caution, change lanes if possible and reduce speed.”
On April 11th, 2019, Dittmar was charged with two counts of Reckless Homicide (both Class 2 Felonies), and one count of Operating A Commercial Motor Vehicle While Fatigued – Causing Death (Class 3 Felony).
An arrest warrant was issued for Dittmar and the bond for the warrant was set by the judge at $250,000.
Dittmar was later taken into custody and lodged in the Stephenson County Jail where he is being held in lieu of that bond.
Read TNN’s initial report HERE.
Read ISP’s charging statement HERE.
