Byron, IL – Ogle County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Randy Hilliard was killed in an off-duty crash on Saturday morning.

Lt. Hilliard, 50, was travelling eastbound on Rt. 72 at about 1:30 a.m. on July 28 when his pickup truck crossed the center line and struck an SUV head on, the Ogle County News reported.

He died at the scene, according to a press release from the Illinois State Police.

The passengers in the SUV were transported to hospitals where they were treated. It turned out that the passengers in the Jeep struck by Lt. Hilliard’s truck were all members of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office’s extended family, the Rochelle News-Leader reported.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office hired Lt. Hilliard as a correctional officer in February of 1991, the Ogle County News reported.

He rose through the ranks and was promoted to sergeant, and later to lieutenant. Lt. Hilliard held various offices and responsibilities in the sheriff’s department during his tenure, according to a statement on the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office official Facebook page.

“Randy will be deeply missed by his family at the sheriff’s office, but more importantly his family at home. I would ask during this very difficult time you keep Randy’s wife, children, parents and siblings in your thoughts and prayers,” Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said in a statement.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ogle County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Randy Hilliard, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.