https://www.stltoday.com/news/...rce=home-top-story-2

"SMITHTON — When James M. “Mitch” Ellis left the Marines after four years of active duty, he got a job and earned a master’s degree.

But after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, he felt the call to serve again and joined the Marine Reserves, winding up deployed in Iraq.

St. Louis County police Chief Jon Belmar said that Ellis still felt the call to serve so he joined the department in 2011. On Thursday night, he finished his shift in the 8th Precinct in Jennings and headed home to Hecker.

But another driver on Highway 159 tried to pass a truck and struck Ellis’ vehicle head-on about 11 p.m near Smithton, said Trooper Josh Korando of the Illinois State Police. The collision killed a passenger in the other vehicle and left Ellis, 49, critically injured. He died a few hours later at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
2015 file photo featuring Mitch Ellis

St. Louis County Police Officer Mitch Ellis (far right) helps unload a truckload of food at the St. Louis Area Foodbank on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. Ellis was fatally injured in a multivehicle crash late Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2019, near Smithton, Illinois. Photo by Cristina Fletes, cfletes@post-dispatch.com

Ellis is survived by his wife, five children, his parents and a brother.



Belmar said he got a phone call just after 2 a.m. telling him that Ellis was fighting for his life after the crash. A second call came a short time later, Belmar said, with news Ellis had not survived his injuries.

Officers from several agencies converged on Barnes-Jewish Hospital overnight, consoling one another. The police chief announced Ellis’ death to members of the department at 5 a.m.; Belmar wrote that Ellis “was a remarkable person, a fine officer and a true hero in the example he set.”

Ellis had worked in the 2nd, 3rd and 8th precincts during his years with the police department.

The woman killed in the crash, Ariah Claybrone, 24, of Memphis, Tennessee, was pronounced dead at the scene. The car she was in was driven by Dale L. Claybrone Jr., 23, of Chicago. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Police said Dale Claybrone was driving north in a Hyundai Sonata, following a semitrailer on Highway 159 near Brick School Road. He passed the semitrailer and hit Ellis’ southbound vehicle head-on. Ellis was driving a Dodge Caravan.

After hitting the Caravan, the Sonata spun back into the northbound lane and was hit by the semitrailer, police said. The truck driver declined medical treatment.

Highway 159 is a straight two-lane undivided highway at the crash site. The crash was in the 6100 block of Highway 159, about 600 feet south of Brick School Road and between the Illinois towns of Hecker and Smithton. The area is south of the Wildwood neighborhood on the south end of Smithton.

St. Louis County police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said Illinois State Police are handling the investigation."


We were not close, but I know him. He was a good man and good officer.

This sucks.

from years ago I fully understand your sense of loss.My sympathy to you and the lost officer and Marine.

Sorry man. All I can say. It does suck. The one driver was impatient and in a hurry and now two people are dead.

The only consolation is I know the support his wife and kids will receive from you guys. I know that’s little consolation now, but I have seen first hand the Leo community support the family of a fallen officer.

Be well and be safe

As we depart this life it's like being on a ship, we look back at the shore recently departed and see those still of this world sad and crying as they wave goodbye.

When we look ahead upon the other shore we see those of our past and those of our future waving and smiling happily, ecstatic that we are finally coming home.

Sorry for your loss and prayers for him and his family!

Kevin, I'm sorry to hear this news and for your loss and the loss suffered by your fellow officers.

Thoughts and prayers for those of officer Ellis' family and friends, and thank him for his service.

God be with his wife and kids. Condolences to all.

It just sucks... He was/is a good man. Much better than me.

I feel awful for his family.

He was almost home when this happened, and heading home from his shift.

Truly saddened to hear this news!

Condolences to all affected by his death.

Prayers for all who grieve.

Simply horrible. My sincerest condolences.

No life is more worth living than a live devoted to service to others. Such a tragedy that this good man's life, and the many good deeds left undone, was cut short. All because of some idiot driver who has been a burden humanity. RIP brother, my condolences to his friends and family.

So sorry to hear this. He was a true hero.