3rd Niles Officer Dies From Crash Injuries, Services Planned

NILES, IL — A third member of the Niles Police Department has died as result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident last month in Texas. Sgt. Joseph Lazo, 39, who had been hospitalized since the July 18 incident, succumbed to his injuries Friday. He had sustained critical injuries to his entire left side, and most importantly his leg.

Two other Niles police officers — one active, one retired — and one other man died as a result of injuries sustained in the mishap. The other officers killed were Joseph Paglia, a retired detective, and Michael White, a community service officer. Jerry Wayne Harbour, of Houston, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a retired pilot for Eastern Airlines, was also killed.

On July 18, 12 members of the Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, a nonprofit that helps police officers and their families, were hit in a head-on crash on a Texas highway in Kerrville. In addition to the four dead, nine people were injured.

According to his obituary, Lazo was the beloved grandson of Marilyn and Ed Kelly; dear fiancé of Maria Salas; adored brother, nephew, uncle, and friend of many.

According to the Niles Police Department, Lazo's body was due to be flown in to O'Hare International Airport at 7:20 p.m. Monday. An honor procession will be departing from the cargo area off Irving Park Road and proceeding to the following route:

• Irving Park Road EAST to Cumberland Ave.
• Cumberland Avenue NORTH to Devon Ave.
• Devon Ave. EAST to Milwaukee Ave.
• Milwaukee Ave. NORTH to Touhy Ave. (Passing the Niles Police Department)
• Touhy Ave. EAST to Cicero Ave.
• Cicero Ave. SOUTH to Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home (6150 N. Cicero Avw., Chicago)

Visitation is planned for 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N Cicero Ave., Chicago. Funeral Mass will be held privately at Queen of All Saints Basilica. Interment private at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. Further funeral information can be found at (773) 736-3833 or visit www.smithcorcoran.com.

For Lazo, a GoFundMe had been set up shortly after the accident. As of Monday, it had raised more than $47,000.

"It is with a heavy heart that my family has to share that we lost our beloved big brother, Joe, early this morning," a family member posted on the GoFundMe site Friday. "We are still getting answers on the how and why. I think we will forever be asking why. Why our Joe and why his brothers that he loves so much. So much loss in the span of a little more than a week. We are still in shock."

The post said that the family found solace in that Lazo's fiancé was able to visit him as there had been some difficulties for others in doing so due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"We are thankful she was able to see our brother in his last few moments. And was at his side until the very end," the post continues. "The love of his life was with him, and we are eternally grateful for this. We love you Maria and you are our sister until the end of time."