Flags ordered to be at half-staff for fallen volunteer firefighter

ILLINOIS (WAND) - Gov. JB Pritzker has ordered flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Mehdi Mourad, a volunteer firefighter from central Illinois. 

All persons or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act must fly flags at half-staff from sunrise on June 1 to sunset on Saturday, June 3 to honor Mourad. 

Mourad had only been with the Wabash Fire Protection District for five days when he responded to a multi-vehicle crash in the early morning hours Sunday. A car was parked on the side of I-57 when he lost control of his vehicle in severe weather and struck the car.

Mourad was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated. He died at a hospital. 

A processional was held in Mourad's memory Wednesday. Responders escorted his body from Springfield to Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. 

See a proclamation ordering flags to be at half-staff from the governor in a picture attached to this story.