Police Officer Thomas A. Wodarczyk

Thomas A. Wodarczyk

Patrolmen Thomas A. Wodarczyk and William S. Bodnar, Jr. , assigned to squad car 107 in the Central District, died when their car rammed a produce truck at Van Buren and Morgan Streets while they were chasing a stolen vehicle.

The patrolmen began the pursuit at 5:40 a.m., westbound on Van Buren from State. For 3 minutes and 20 seconds, squad 107 was reporting on the progress of the chase and relaying the license number of the car being pursued. Patrolman Bodnar was driving as Patrolman Wodarczyk updated the dispatch center.The radio of squad 107 went silent. At 5:43 a.m., another officer called in for emergency equipment to be sent to Van Buren and Morgan.The policemen were pronounced dead a short time later.

The truck driver was northbound on Morgan Street, proceeding through the green light. His view of the oncoming squad car was partially blocked by an eight-story building on the southeast corner of the intersection. The stolen vehicle was found abandoned. Officer Wodarczyk is survived by his wife and three children.