(No. 00012

#### Virginia Polimeni, as wife of John Polimeni, deceased, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.

Opinion filed June 13, 1972.

Virginia Polimeni, Claimant, pro se.

William J. Scott, Attorney General; Saul R. Wexler, Assistant Attorney General, and Vincent Biskupic, Special Assistant Attorney General, for Respondent.

Perlin, C.J.

This claim was filed pursuant to Ch. 48, Sec. 281 et seq., Ill.Rev.Stat., 1971, “Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen Compensation Act.” The Court is in receipt of the Application for Benefits and Statement of Supervising Officer, as well as an investigative report by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Based upon these documents the Court finds as follows:

That the claimant, Virginia Polimeni, is the wife of the decedent and is the named beneficiary under the Application for Benefits. That the decedent, John Polimeni, was a volunteer fireman for the Vernon Fire *396Protection District, engaged in the scope of duty on June 21, 1971, within the meaning of Section 282 of the aforecited act. On said date he suffered extreme traumatic injuries resulting in his death when the fire department pumper truck he was driving failed to complete a s-shaped curve, overturned and went into a ditch. The Court further finds that the Attorney General’s office in its investigation has determined that this claim is within the scope of the above cited statutes:

> “Section 282 (e) ‘killed in the line of duty’ means losing one’s life as a result of injury received in the active performance of duties as a law enforcement officer or fireman if the death occurs within one year from the date the injury was received and if that injury arose from violence or other accidental cause. . . .”

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the sum of $10,000.00 (TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS) be, and the same hereby is, granted to Virginia Polimeni, as wife and next of kin of the decedent, John Polimeni.