Bolingbrook, IL – Bolingbrook police say Officer Stephen Alexander, 49, was killed along with his brother, mother, and father while they were on their way to a funeral in New Ross, Wexford, Ireland.

The family was traveling in a rental car on Ireland’s N25 highway on Monday when police believe that the driver tried to make a U-turn and pulled in front of a truck, which struck the side of their rental car, according to ABC Chicago.

All four of the Alexander family members were pronounced dead on scene. The driver of the truck and the truck’s passenger were uninjured.

Officer Alexander was a 17-year veteran with the Bolingbrook Police Department. He received his associates degree in criminal justice from the College of DuPage. He graduated from the Cook County Police Academy in 2001 as valedictorian with a top marksman award, according to NBC Chicago.

Director Ken Teppel said in a statement, “Steve was an exemplary officer who took great pride in his law enforcement career and who devoted himself to protecting and serving the citizens of Bolingbrook. Steve will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and we will forever keep the Alexander family in our thoughts and our prayers.”

Officer Alexander leaves behind a 10 year old daughter and an 11 year old daughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Steven Alexander and the Bolingbrook Police Department. Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.