KEWANEE — A 21‑year‑old Illinois Army National Guard soldier was killed Sunday night in a single‑vehicle crash after supporting a community relations event in Kewanee, according to a news release from the Illinois National Guard.
Spc. Aiden Mrotek, of Carpentersville, was driving home after assisting with the Guard’s outreach efforts when his vehicle struck a bridge guardrail west of Route 40 on 2000 North Avenue near Manlius at about 8:48 p.m., the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said in the release. He was fatally injured in the crash.
Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, said Mrotek represented the highest ideals of service.
“He was a dedicated and patriotic man who, at the tender age of 21, had already deployed overseas in support of U.S. military counter‑terrorism operations,” Williams said in the release. “He epitomized what it means to be a National Guard soldier, answering the call in our nation’s defense while also being part of the community in which he served.”
Mrotek joined the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, based in Kewanee, in May 2023. He deployed to Djibouti, Africa, from September 2024 to September 2025, supporting U.S. counter‑terrorism missions.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
Although his duties in Kewanee had concluded earlier in the day, Mrotek remained on military orders at the time of the crash, according to the release. The Illinois Army National Guard regularly supports community events to inform the public about its missions and capabilities and to assist with recruiting.
