Southern Illinois News

Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) filed a bill this year to honor a fallen Illinois State Trooper. Frank R. Dunbar was killed in May 1972 during a vehicle accident while he was on duty.

"Trooper Dunbar was killed in an automobile accident on May 14, 1972 while patrolling Route 37 north of Benton." Severin posted on Facebook. "As a measure of our respect and admiration for Trooper Dunbar's sacrifice, and as a token of our appreciation to his family members that live on to this day, and as a symbol of the respect we have for all Illinois State Troopers for putting themselves in harm's way protecting Illinois citizens every single day I ask for your yes vote in designating the stretch of Hwy north of Benton to lake Benton road on 37 as Trooper Frank Dunbar Memorial Highway."

Severin filed this resolution on Feb. 23. The bill was passed in a roll call vote of 102 yes and five abstentions on March 10.

Dunbar's death occurred while he drove southbound in his marked patrol car. A teenage driver began to pass a vehicle heading north and tried to get back into the northbound lane when he saw Dunbar's vehicle, but wasn't able to keep the car under control. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the accident left the top of the Trooper's vehicle completely sheared off.

Dunbar served as an Illinois State Trooper from Oct. 28, 1957 to May 14, 1972.