Local News

Raymond Police Chief Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash

Thu, 16 May 2019 15:26:27 CDT

Two Hillsboro residents, including the Raymond Chief of Police, were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Thursday, May 16, south of Raymond.

Valerie Sheldon, 39, and Samantha Lapradd, 23, died as a result of injuries they suffered in the accident on Route 127 just south of North 21st Avenue. According to Illinois State Police Trooper Jeremy Nairn, Lapradd was driving north on Route 127 when her vehicle crossed into the southbound lane and struck Sheldon's car head-on. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene by Montgomery County Coroner Randy Leetham.

Sheldon, a member of the Raymond Police Department for nearly 12 years, would have celebrated her nine-year anniversary as the village's police chief in June, according to Mayor Denny Held. He called Sheldon a hard-worker and said she was great with the community.

"She was a number one people person for the village," Held said. "She was an excellent representation of the village and (I) had nothing but good rapport with her. She had good rapport with all the neighbors too and the other communities and other agencies. She was just a great officer and we're going to hate to lose her."

The accident occurred at 8:09 a.m. Assisting at the scene were the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Hillsboro Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.