Man killed, off-duty sergeant seriously hurt in Joliet crash

(JOLIET) A 24-year-old man was killed and an off-duty police sergeant seriously injured in a crash early Thursday in southwest suburban Joliet.

The two-vehicle crash happened at Larkin and Delmar about 3:20 a.m., Joliet Deputy Police Chief Edgar Gregory said.

The off-duty sergeant was driving northbound on Larkin in a GMC Yukon when the SUV collided head-on with a southbound Pontiac Bonneville, driven by a 24-year-old man, Gregory said. Both vehicles were totaled.

The driver of the Pontiac, Rashad J. Stinson of Joliet, was extricated from his car and pronounced dead at the scene at 4:38 a.m., according to police and the Will County coroner’s office.

The 38-year-old sergeant was pulled from his SUV by witnesses who drove by after the crash, Gregory said. He was taken to Saint Joseph’s Hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday afternoon.

The 13-year veteran of the department, who usually works night shifts, was headed to Dunkin Donuts to meet an on-duty officer for coffee, Gregory said.

“He’s banged up pretty good,” Gregory said.

There is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, Gregory said.