Crime & Safety

Off-Duty Bolingbrook Cop Helps Save Man's Life

Bolingbrook Officer Regalado was driving to work when she noticed a mini van behind her swerving across several lanes and into a ditch.

An off-duty Bolingbrook police officer on her way to work helped save the life of a fellow motorist after he had suffered a heart-attack and veered off the road, Bolingbrook police said.

Officer Jill Regalado was on her way to work on Wednesday when she saw in her rear-view mirror a blue mini van veer across several lanes of traffic and go off the highway near I-355 and Route 6.

Regalado pulled her personal car over and ran into the ditch where the car was to offer her assistance, where she found the driver, a male, unconscious and slumped sideways in the driver's seat.

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Regalado immediately called 911 to request police and fire assistance before handing the phone off to another helper who had just arrived on scene while Regalado attempted to open the front doors, which proved locked.

Regalado advised a third helper to retrieve her riot baton from her trunk so he could smash the windows out and drag the victim from the car. 

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When the victim was extracted from the car, Regalado performed CPR on the victim, who did not have a pulse. Regalado and one of the helpers did CPR on the victim until an Illinois State Trooper arrived, upon which Regalado and the state trooper used an automated external defibrillator on the victim.

At this point, Regalado called her sergeant to tell him she would be late.

Later that day, Regalado received word that the victim had suffered a heart attack at the wheel but survived and was in stable condition at Silver Cross Hospital.

Bolingbrook Lieutenant Mike Rompa said Regalado's response was heroic and the entire department was very proud of her. 

"It is obvious her training and experience played a great role in possibly saving this victim's life," he said. "We commend her efforts."


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