An off-duty Wauconda police officer and his wife were critically or seriously injured in a three-car crash that involved a wrong-way driver on Interstate 39 under the Route 64 overpass about 2:40 a.m., Monday, April 24, 2023. A Maywood man, who was the wrong way driver and was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-39, was killed in the crash.
A Romeoville man, a Shorewood woman, and an Oswego woman were also injured. The crash was dispatched as a crash with possible multiple ejections and entrapment in the southbound lanes of I-39 at MM 104. Ogle County Sheriff’s deputies upon arrival before fire crews advised extrication would be needed. A Mercyhealth REACT helicopter medical transport was assigned to the scene and MD-1 mobile physician unit was also assigned to the crash.
Southbound I-39 was shut down at Route 72 near Monroe Center and Davis Junction. The crash was located about 5 miles north of Rochelle, and about 12 miles south of Rockford.
Wauconda police officer Tim Geroulis, age 29, was driving a Toyota RAV4 with his wife Michelle Geroulis, age 30, southbound on Interstate 39 in Ogle County when the wrong-way driver caused the crash that occurred under the overpass of Route 64. There was a passenger in the back seat of the Toyota RAV4 that did not initially report any injuries. The three were returning home from a family gathering.
Clearthis Gardner, age 79, Maywood was traveling northbound in southbound lanes while driving a Honda CR-V, and hit the Toyota RAV4, which was launched into the air and then struck a Chevrolet Malibu that had been traveling southbound behind the Toyota RAV4.
The Illinois State Police were already responding to multiple calls of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 39 just before the crash occurred.
Tim Geroulis is a police officer assigned to the Marine Unit with the Wauconda Police Department, and also works as a police officer for the Holiday Hills Police Department. As part of his treatment and recovery, Tim Geroulis was placed in a medically-induced coma.
The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu is from Romeoville, and his two passengers are from Shorewood and Oswego.
Michelle and Tim have a long road of rehabilitation and recovery, mentally, physically and financially. As we don’t know the extent of Tim’s recovery just yet we do know they are going to need our support in getting them through this tragic accident. The medical expenses they will incur are going to be devastating. Thank you for your donations to offset these costs or a meal to nourish their soul. We appreciate any help you can offer them to help with their healing journey.
Tim serves both Wauconda PD as well as Holiday Hills PD and other off duty security jobs. Michelle is a Registered Nurse aiding families and children.
The Lynn-Scott-Rock FPD would like to thank all of the mutual aid units (Rochelle, Ogle-Lee, Oregon, Stillman Fire Protection District, REACT and MD-1) that assisted on the MVA on I39 this morning. Five patients were transported to area hospitals.
WRONG-WAY DRIVER, HEAD-ON CRASH WITH INJURIES ON INTERSTATE 39 NEAR ROUTE 64, LINDENWOOD, LYNNVILLE TOWNSHIP: 2:40 AM … Lynn-Scott-Rock Fire Protection District at Interstate 39 and Route 64 Lynnville Township. Head-on multi-vehicle crash with… https://t.co/JR3yfniB87
— ChicagoFireMap (@ChicagoFireMap) April 24, 2023
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