DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly says that another officer has died in the line of duty.

Trooper Gerald Ellis was on-duty around 3:30 a.m. Friday morning traveling home in his squad car on I-94 westbound near milepost 16.75 in Green Oaks, when a wrong-way driver, who was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes, struck Trooper Ellis head on.

The 36 year old Ellis was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries. At approximately 4:04 a.m. Trooper Ellis succumbed to his injuries.

Trooper Ellis was an 11-year veteran of the Illinois State Police District 15 in Downers Grove.