Illinois State Police trooper killed in crash with truck driver. Here's what we know

An Illinois State Police trooper who was part of a motorcycle patrol was struck and killed by a truck driver in Champaign County Friday afternoon.

Corey S. Thompsen, 28, was part of a Special Operations Group and had been with the state police for nearly five years, said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly at a news conference in Pesotum Saturday.

Thompsen was on-duty finishing a traffic enforcement detail and traveling east on East Leverett Road Friday afternoon.

A truck, driven by Helen Torres, 32, of Thomasboro, was traveling south on County Road 1300 East and stopped at the intersection at Leverett Road when she pulled into the roadway, striking Thompsen’s motorcycle.

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A witness provided aid until first responders arrived and took Thompsen to an area hospital where he died of injuries around 4:30 p.m.

It is the first fatal crash involving a state police trooper this year.

The intersection is just east of Interstate 57 and northeast of Champaign.

Torres was cited for failure to yield right of way at a stop intersection and not having a valid driver’s license (expired less than a year). Torres was treated at a local hospital for injuries.

“When we lose a public servant, a trooper like this, when we lose a noble knight like Corey Thompsen, I really have to ask you all for more than just your prayers and your thoughts," Kelly said Saturday. "Corey was a great trooper."

Gov. JB Pritzker tweeted that Thompsen "should have had a long life of service ahead of him. His family and loved ones will be in the thoughts of Illinoisans across our state."

Pritzker ordered all flags statewide to be lowered to half-staff in Thompsen's honor.

Thompsen, who attended St. Joseph-Ogden High School, is survived by his wife and parents.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie .

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois State Police trooper killed in crash with truck driver. Here's what we know