By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
LaFAYETTE – Illinois State Police Officer Braden McFall of Elmwood was hospitalized after a two-vehicle accident last Friday night along the border between Stark and Knox counties.
According to an Illinois State Police statement, an officer was sitting inside a parked squad car on Illinois Route 17 at Knox Road 2400 East when it was struck by a vehicle at about 7:20 p.m. The trooper involved was McFall and the driver of the other vehicle has been confirmed as Joseph S. Pruiett, 45, of Wyanet.
Both McFall and Pruiett were transported by ambulance to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. No report on McFall’s condition was available, though he is believed to be alert and speaking with friends and family. An Elmwood High School graduate, McFall has worked as a state trooper since 2024, according to information on the Illinois Comptroller’s website.
Pruiett was charged Monday in Knox County with felony counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated DUI/crash/bodily harm and aggravated reckless driving with bodily harm. He also faces two misdemeanor DUI charges and a misdemeanor count for resisting a police officer, as well as charges of failure to reduce speed and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Pruiett is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 23 at 2 p.m. in the Knox County Courthouse in front of Judge Andrew Doyle.
Pruiett has been on probation since Sept. 5, 2025, after pleading guilty to a Class 4 felony charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in Bureau County. He was arrested Aug. 18, 2025, after allegedly firing his gun during a domestic disturbance, according to Starved Rock Media. Pruiett was initially charged with domestic battery, aggravated assault and reckless discharge of a firearm.
