Tragic Car Accident Claims Life of Darcy Connolly-Brunner, Mother of WNBA Star

The mother of former WNBA player Sophie Brunner, Darcy Connolly-Brunner, died in a head-on collision in Illinois, involving a suspect with a history of DUI and illegal status in the country.

The incident occurred in Freeport when Rolando Ico-Choc, a 30-year-old Guatemalan national with a criminal record including multiple DUIs, crossed into the wrong lane and crashed into Connolly-Brunner’s vehicle. Both individuals died at the scene. Authorities are investigating whether Ico-Choc was under the influence during the crash.

Connolly-Brunner, a 61-year-old married mother of four, was reportedly not intoxicated at the time. She was remembered as a kind and caring individual who deeply loved her family and community. Her daughter, Sophie Brunner, played in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury and at Arizona State University.

Legal records show Ico-Choc had a long history of criminal behavior, including prior charges of DUI, felony DUI, and assault. He had previously been arrested for DUI in March 2022 and again in February 2023, despite being banned from driving. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and was under court supervision for two years. Additionally, he was sentenced to six days in jail after an incident involving domestic battery in June 2023.

Authorities are now examining whether Ico-Choc was intoxicated during the fatal crash. Meanwhile, political figures have criticized Illinois’ sanctuary policies. State Senator Andrew Chesney attributed the tragedy to the legal protections that prevent cooperation with immigration enforcement, blaming these policies for allowing repeat offenders to remain in the U.S.

Chesney and others, including State Rep. John Cabello, expressed anger over the situation, with Chesney stating, “A woman who dedicated her life to her family and her community was killed by a man who should not have been in this country or on the road.”

Local law enforcement officials acknowledged their role in the investigation and expressed condolences, with one stating, “Her passing has left a hole in the hearts of those who knew her, including myself and members of my family.”