Illinois State Police, Illinois
End of Watch: Friday, January 5, 1990
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 3848
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: January 5, 1990
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper April Styburski died after a fall during an accident investigation.
Trooper Styburski was investigating a property accident near Pingree Grove on U.S. 20, east of Elgin. She heard the sound of another accident nearby. Trooper Styburski turned and ran toward the second accident. She slipped on the icy pavement and landed on her back. The fall caused her to inhale so deeply that she inhaled gastric acid into her lungs which caused her vitals to shut down. She was taken to St. Joseph Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Trooper April Styburski was four year veteran of the Illinois State Police, and was assigned to District 2, Elgin; she was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. She had previously served as Specialist 4 with 822nd Military Police Company for the United States Army and is survived by her husband and son.
On March 15, 1991, the District 2 training room was re-dedicated in memory of Trooper Styburski.