EAST PEORIA — A Freeport man was killed when he was struck early today by an Illinois State Police vehicle on Illinois Route 116.

The Tazewell County Coroner's Office identified the man who was killed as Jarett J. Simons, 44, of Freeport. According to the Illinois State Police, the crash occurred about 4:20 a.m. on Route 116 near Cenntennial Drive.

“It saddens me to announce a pedestrian was fatally injured during a tragic traffic crash along Illinois Route 116,”said ISP Capt. Steven Riesenberg. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and their family.”

The preliminary investigation indicates the trooper was driving in the left lane of Route 116, which is also known as North Main Street in East Peoria, when he struck Simons, who was walking in the middle of the highway, which isn't illuminated at that point. The trooper, whose name wasn't released, did not have time to react before striking Simons, the release said.

The unnamed trooper wasn't hurt but was taken to a local hospital to be examined.

The scene was being processed by ISP Crime Scene Services, the ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, and ISP Zone 4 Investigations.

No further information is being released at this time.