Latest news with #DarcyConnollyBrunner
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Mom of Ex-WNBA Player Sophie Brunner Killed in Car Crash
Darcy Connolly-Brunner died in a head-on collision in Illinois NEED TO KNOW Darcy Connolly-Brunner, the mother of former WNBA and Arizona State University basketball player Sophie Brunner, died at 61 She was killed in a head-on collision in Orangeville, Ill. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash The mother of former Phoenix Mercury and Arizona State University basketball player Sophie Brunner died in a head-on collision in Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 9. Darcy Connolly-Brunner was 61 at the time of her death. TMZ was first to report the news. In a statement shared on social media, the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office confirmed that they responded to the crash at approximately 12:38 p.m. The fatal crash occurred in Orangeville, Ill. PEOPLE has reached out to the SCSO for comment. The head-on collision took place on Illinois Route 26 North near Oneco Road. Police confirmed that a Nissan Altima, driven by Rolando Ico-Choc, was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 26 North when it allegedly entered the northbound lane, colliding with Connolly-Brunner. Ico-Choc, 30, survived the crash. "As part of the investigation, deputies are examining whether alcohol impairment by Mr. Ico-Choc may have been a contributing factor in the crash," SCSO said in the press release. "There is no indication that Ms. Connolly-Brunner was impaired." The SCSO revealed, "Toxicology testing will be conducted as part of the autopsy process, and results may take several weeks to be returned." The Orangeville Fire Department, Winslow Fire Department, Cedarville Fire Protection District, Leamon's Ambulance Service, the Stephenson County Coroner's Office, and the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit all contributed to the emergency response efforts. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Brunner is a former basketball star from Freeport, Ill., who led the Aquin High School women's basketball team to several state titles in her junior and senior years, per TMZ. She played forward for ASU and was named First Team All-PAC-12 three times (2015-2017) and led the Sun Devils to the NCAA Tournament each season. In 2017, the Mercury signed her as a free agent and traded her to the San Antonio Stars before the end of the season. She went on to play pro ball in Italy and coach students at Rockford Christian Schools. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Ex-WNBA star's mom killed in head-on smash with illegal immigrant who had a history of drunk driving
The mother of former WNBA forward Sophie Brunner has been tragically killed in a head-on collision with a driver believed to be in the country illegally. Both Darcy Connolly-Brunner, 61, and 30-year-old Guatemalan national Rolando Ico-Choc were killed in the crash Saturday afternoon, according to the Stephenson County (Illinois) Sheriff's Office. A press release claims Ico-Choc was driving southbound in a Nissan Altima when the vehicle entered the northbound lane and collided head on with Connolly-Brunner's Ford Edge in the rural village of Orangeville along the Wisconsin state lane. The crash remains under investigation by Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, who are still working to determine if alcohol impairment by Ico-Choc played a factor in the crash. There is no indication Connolly-Brunner was impaired, according to the department. Toxicology testing take place during the autopsy, but results can take several weeks before they're publicized. Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall told reporters Tuesday that Ico-Choc has a criminal history involving drunk-driving convictions. In 2023, he was charged with aggravated DUI with a suspended or revoked license and ultimately did a short jail term in addition to receiving probation, according to Ico-Choc was also sentenced to court supervision and alcohol treatment following a 2022 DUI conviction and was previously arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in 2023. Stovall told reporters he held off releasing the identities of crash victims for days to allow Stephenson County Coroner's Office time to reach a next of kin for Ico-Choc. The department could not find an address for Ico-Choc, who is believed to be a Guatemalan national. Illinois state senator Andrew Chesney of Freeport said Homeland Security officials confirmed to him that Ico-Choc was in the country illegally. A mother of four, Connolly-Brunner was a long-time resident of Stephenson County, who was well known to Stovall. 'Darcy was more than just a member of the community, she was a friend,' Stovall said. 'She was a kind and giving person who cared deeply for her family and friends.' The Iowa native and married Thomas Brunner nearly 40 years ago, according to her obituary with the Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. In her youth, she was involved in 4-H and training horses, as well as track and field and her family's restaurant. The professional social worker spent her life advocating for 'vulnerable populations' and volunteering at her local church, according to the obituary. She is survived by her husband Tom as well as children Ellen Brunner, Sophie (Marcus) Bruder, Gabrielle (Hewitt Dameier) Brunner, and Heath (Dana Geiser) Brunner. Sophie, now 29, had a successful college career at Arizona State where she was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection before going undrafted in 2017. Nonetheless, she still managed to catch on with the Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Stars in 2017 before moving on to play professionally in Italy. These days Brunner is coaching and teaching at the high school level. Stovall was joined Tuesday by Illinois Republicans, including House GOP leader Tony McCombie, Chesney and Representative John Cabello, all of whom blamed amnesty laws and Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for Saturday's tragedy. 'We are calling for a full repeal of the Safety Act and end to sanctuary policies in the state and for the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal law enforcement to get criminals that are illegal in this country off of our streets,' Chesney told assembled media. 'To be crystal clear, this person was in this country illegally,' Chesney said. 'He was a multiple criminal offender with domestics and felony DUIs. And our local law enforcement is unable to communicate with federal authorities to remove people like this from our state and our country. It's a direct result of the policy we have passed in Springfield.' Cabello called out Pritzker by name. 'I hold JB Pritzker personally responsible,' he said. 'I hold the Democrats personally responsible. This should not have happened, period. 'We have a life that was taken by somebody who shouldn't have been here. There are millions of people that come to this great nation legally. That's what we want. That's what we as tax-paying citizens deserve.'
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Ex-WNBA player's mom dies in car crash involving illegal immigrant, officials say
The mother of former WNBA player Sophie Brunner was identified as the victim of a head-on collision involving an illegal immigrant, Illinois officials said on Tuesday. Darcy Connolly-Brunner, 61, and Rolando Ico-Choc, 30, both died when Ico-Choc drove his Nissan Altima crossed the center line on Illinois Route 26 in Stephenson County into Connolly-Brunner's Ford Edge on Aug. 9, Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall said at a press conference. Both were killed in the crash. Stovall said it was believed that Ico-Choc was a Guatemalan national who had lived in Freeport once before and that alcohol may have played a role in the crash, according to WIFR-TV. "One of the lives was someone I knew well, Darcy Connolly-Brunner," Stovall added. "Darcy was more than just a member of the community, she was a friend. She was a kind and giving person who cared deeply for her family and friends." Stovall also revealed that Ico-Choc had a criminal past. Records show that he was charged with aggravated DUI with a license suspended or revoked in 2023. Officials said there was no indication that Connolly-Brunner was under the influence. Illinois state Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, said Homeland Security officials confirmed with him that Ico-Choc was in the country illegally. He called for the repeal of the TRUST Act and the SAFE-T Act, which he said contributed to Ico-Choc being in the country in the first place. "A woman who dedicated her life to her family and her community was killed in broad daylight by a man who never should have been in this country or on the road," he said in a statement. "His criminal record includes prior charges of DUI, aggravated (felony) DUI, and battery. "Additionally, it was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that he was in this country illegally, having crossed the border a few years ago during the Biden administration. Yet, thanks to Illinois' TRUST Act and the SAFE-T Act, he remained in this country and was free to get back behind the wheel of a car and kill an innocent woman. It's unacceptable, and I am sickened by it." Sophie Brunner was a local basketball star in Freeport and attended Arizona State to play college basketball. She joined the WNBA in 2017, playing for the Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars.
