Tragic Accident Claims Life of Former WNBA Player’s Mother
The mother of former WNBA player, Sophie Brunner, tragically lost her life in a head-on collision involving an illegal immigrant with a history of drunk driving in Illinois.
Darcy Connolly Brunner was killed on Saturday, August 9th, when Rolando Ai Chock, a 30-year-old from Guatemala, drove directly into her vehicle after crossing the double yellow line in Freeport, Illinois.
Reports indicate that both drivers were declared dead at the scene. Officers emphasized that Connolly Brunner was not at fault for the accident and highlighted Chock’s prior offenses for driving under the influence.
Chock has accumulated multiple arrests and convictions for drunk driving in Illinois. Yet, due to policies like the Democrat-backed Trust Act, he remained free after each incident.
Republican Representative John Cabello criticized state Democrats for these lenient policies, expressing that the system failed to protect citizens.
“I hold JB Pritzker personally responsible,” Cabello stated. “Someone who should never have been here took my life away.”
Additionally, Republican Senator Andrew Chesney noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had already flagged Chock due to previous DUI charges and issued a detainer request, which Illinois officials ignored.
“A woman who committed herself to her family and community was killed during the day by someone who never should have been on our roads,” Chesney remarked.
He further pointed out that in recent years, the system has prioritized protecting illegal immigrants over the safety of Illinois residents.
“This wouldn’t have happened in Indiana or Iowa,” Chesney added, emphasizing that those states tend to keep repeat offenders off the streets, unlike Illinois, where significant failures in the legal system have created dangers for everyday citizens.
The criminal history of Chock includes arrests as recently as 2023 for driving without a license and intoxicated. Even with prior convictions, he was placed under court supervision instead of being jailed. He even faced a charge of home battery in 2023, for which he served just a week in prison.
Sophie Brunner attended Freeport High School before playing women’s basketball at Arizona State University, and she spent one season with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
