Death At Joliet Police Department: Off-Duty Sergeant Killed In Crash

JOLIET, IL— An off-duty Joliet Police Department supervisor who just marked his 20th anniversary with the department was killed Friday in a head-on collision in Beecher along Route 1 near Eagle Lake Road. The Illinois State Police is investigating the fatality that took the life of Joliet Police Sgt. Hollis Weller. Weller, 47, joined the Joliet police force on May 2, 2005, and he was promoted to a sergeant on July 24, 2020.

Joliet Police Department shared the following information on its Facebook at 10 a.m. Saturday:

"It is with profound sorrow that the Joliet Police Department shares the untimely passing of Sergeant Hollis Weller, who tragically died on May 16, 2025, following a motor vehicle crash while off duty in southeastern Will County. Sergeant Weller, 47, was a highly respected and dedicated 20-year veteran of the Joliet Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in July 2020, and most recently served in the department's Traffic Unit. Sgt. Weller was a decorated Officer whose commitment to service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Award for Heroism in 2015. He was a leader, a mentor, and a friend to many. Sgt. Weller is survived by his loving wife and three children.

"We respectfully ask the public to keep Sgt. Weller’s family, as well as the men and women of the Joliet Police Department, in their thoughts and prayers during this time of unimaginable loss."

According to Illinois State Police, Friday's fatality happened at 11:45 a.m. in Will County at Illinois Route 1 at Eagle Lake Road in Beecher. The fatal traffic crash involved three vehicles, a commercial motor vehicle, a pick-up truck and a passenger vehicle. One person was dead, the state police advised, and all lanes of vehicular travel at the scene were shut down.

"There is no additional information available to share at this time," the state police told Joliet Patch on Friday.

Patch editor Lauren Traut contributed to this story