Rolando Ico-Choc, Darcy Brunner Obituary, Death – Authorities in Illinois say a tragic two-car crash in rural Stephenson County claimed the lives of 61-year-old Darcy Brunner, mother of former WNBA player Sophie Brunner, and 30-year-old Rolando Ico-Choc, a Guatemalan national who was in the U.S. illegally.
According to Sheriff Steven Stovall, deputies were called to Route 26 early Saturday afternoon. A preliminary investigation determined that Brunner was driving a Ford Edge northbound when a southbound Nissan Altima driven by Ico-Choc crossed into her lane and struck her vehicle head-on. Both drivers were killed instantly.
Sheriff Stovall said toxicology tests are pending, but there is no indication Brunner was at fault. The investigation suggests that Ico-Choc’s vehicle veered into the opposite lane for reasons still unknown.
Darcy Brunner’s daughter, Sophie Brunner, is a graduate of Freeport Aquin High School who played NCAA basketball at Arizona State and later joined the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA in 2017.
At a press conference on Tuesday, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) stated that Ico-Choc had been living in the U.S. illegally, was a multiple DUI offender, and was known to the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had issued a detainer for him, but Chesney argued that Illinois’ TRUST Act prevented law enforcement from taking action to deport him.
The TRUST Act, signed in 2017 by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) and later amended by the Way Forward Act, restricts cooperation between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Chesney criticized the law and has introduced Senate Bill 1313, which would reverse it and mandate that undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of felonies be identified, reported to ICE, and deported.
Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) also blamed the legislation and state leadership, saying, “A life was taken by someone who shouldn’t have been here. I hold JB Pritzker personally responsible. I hold the Democrats personally responsible.” Cabello further stated that if it is confirmed there was a warrant for Ico-Choc’s arrest, residents should demand resignations from certain elected officials.
Governor Pritzker responded by saying that violent noncitizens should be imprisoned and, if undocumented, deported. However, he also emphasized that Illinois should protect all residents, including undocumented individuals, while providing a path to citizenship.
The crash has ignited a political debate in Illinois over immigration laws and public safety. Critics of the TRUST Act argue that it shields dangerous offenders from deportation, while supporters say it builds trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
While the political arguments continue, the investigation into the crash remains active. Officials are working to determine whether impairment, distraction, or another factor caused Ico-Choc to cross into the wrong lane.
For the Brunner family, the focus remains on mourning the loss of Darcy, remembered as a devoted mother whose life ended just miles from home in a collision that has now sparked both grief and controversy statewide.
