The mother of former WNBA player Sophie Brunner, Darcy Connolly-Brunner, was killed in a head-on car crash involving an illegal immigrant, Rolando Ico-Choc, on Illinois Route 26. The fatal collision occurred on August 9, as Ico-Choc, a 30-year-old Guatemalan national, drove his Nissan Altima across the center line into Connolly-Brunner’s Ford Edge. Both victims died in the crash, with authorities suggesting alcohol may have played a role due to Ico-Choc’s prior criminal record of DUI charges and a suspended or revoked license.
Illinois State Senator Andrew Chesney, a Republican from Freeport, criticized the TRUST Act and SAFE-T Act, which he claims enabled Ico-Choc to remain in the country illegally after crossing the border during the Biden administration. ‘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,’ said Chesney in a statement. He argued that these state laws, which shield illegal immigrants from deportation, have created a system where individuals with criminal histories can stay in the U.S. and pose risks to public safety.
Stovall, the Stephenson County Sheriff, confirmed that Ico-Choc was in the country illegally and that his criminal past included aggravated DUI charges in 2023. There was no indication that Connolly-Brunner was under the influence at the time of the crash. Stovall also expressed personal grief, noting that Connolly-Brunner was a valued community member who was ‘a kind and giving person who cared deeply for her family and friends.’ The incident has reignited discussions about the impact of immigration policies on public safety and the need for legislative reforms.
Sophie Brunner, a former star player in Freeport, attended Arizona State University to play college basketball and joined the WNBA in 2017, playing for the Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars. The tragedy has left her family and friends reeling, as they mourn the loss of a devoted mother and community pillar. The case has also sparked national debate over the intersection of immigration reform and criminal justice, with advocates calling for stricter enforcement of existing laws to prevent such tragedies in the future.