Trooper Bernard Delano Skeeters

Bernard Delano Skeeters

Trooper Bernard Skeeters was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer on I-55.

Working a safety detail at about 9:00 a.m., Trooper Skeeters was patrolling southbound on I-55 behind an Illinois Department of Transportation paint truck. A semi-trailer truck driver, having fallen asleep behind the wheel, slammed into Trooper Skeeters' squad car. Trooper Skeeters' squad car was forced into the IDOT paint truck which was carrying flammable paints and thinners. Both the squad car and paint truck exploded and were engulfed in flames. The three-vehicle accident instantly killed Trooper Skeeters. The drivers of both the IDOT truck and the semi-trailer survived the accident.

The semi-trailer driver was charged with reckless homicide. However, a jury could not reach a unanimous decision to convict him.

Trooper Bernard Skeeters was a U.S Army veteran of the Vietnam war who served with the Illinois State Police for 12 years and was assigned to District 9 in Springfield. He was survived by his wife and three sons.