Illinois Sheriff's Deputy Killed in Head-On Crash While Driving to Work

CHICAGO -- A 39-year-old Cook County Sheriff’s deputy was killed in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood Monday night while on his way to work, officials said.

A man identified by the sheriff’s office as Deputy Nick Theofanopoulos was driving a Nissan Altima north in the 10300 block of South Kedzie Avenue about 9 p.m. when the car collided with a Jeep Wrangler, according to the Chicago Police Department, which is investigating the crash.

Theofanopoulos was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later was pronounced dead.

Theofanopoulos had worked for the agency for 15 years, said Cara Smith, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. He had been assigned to external operations, Smith said, adding that at the time of the crash he was headed to Christ Medical Center to relieve another deputy who was guarding a detainee there.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this exceptionally difficult time,” Smith wrote in an email.

The Wrangler had pulled out of a driveway and was turning south when the vehicles collided head-on, Chicago police said. The 21-year-old woman who was driving the Wrangler also was taken to Christ, where her condition was stabilized.

No citations were issued, officials said.

[email protected]

———

©2019 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.