BOONE COUNTY – A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning ended in the death of a Boone County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy.
According to Illinois State Police District 15, it happened at 1:36 am Sunday when a Boone County Deputy, Robert Rosenkranz, was conducting a traffic stop on the right shoulder of I-90 near Irene Road. At the time of the crash, Rosenkranz was outside of a 2013 Ford SUV with lights activated when a 2013 White Lincoln Limousine hit the Ford squad car in the rear. Rosenkranz’s Canine partner, Loki, was secure and inside his kennel at the time of the crash.
Rosenkranz suffered minor injuries from flying debris.
Loki was rushed to an emergency veterinarian hospital for treatment and was later died due to injuries sustained in the crash. A 53-year-old Crystal Lake man pulled over at the time of the accident was also transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Limo’s passenger was uninjured in the incident.
The Limousine’s driver, Patricia Wheeler, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Illinois State Police report Wheeler was cited for Driving Under the Influence, Failure to Yield Upon Approaching a Stationary Authorized Emergency Vehicle (Scotts Law), Improper Lane Usage, Driving on the Shoulder, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation.
