The state trooper who died in a crash on I-74 Wednesday is being remembered for being a good friend and a good leader. Ryan Albin (AL-bin) died late Wednesday hours after his squad car collided with a semi. The cause is still under investigation. Darrell Crouch who coached Albin at Eureka College tells news partner WMBD-TV Albin was a great teammate.

“He was a kid who was a good leader for us, but he was someone who could get you to respond and get on you, but he was also one of our first guys who could really lighten the mood and get you to laugh and really brighten things up,” Crouch said.

Coach Kurt Barth says Albin was someone who touched many lives.

“A lot of his former teammates reached out to both Coach Crouch and I and you know you’ve impacted your teammates if guys are responding in that way,” Barth said.

Funeral services for the 37-year-old Albin have been scheduled for Thursday morning following a Wednesday visitation at Blue Ridge High School in Farmer City. Albin graduated from the school in 1998. The school noted that Albin was voted “Best Personality” in the school’s yearbook.

This story was submitted to us by WJBC’s Eric Stock.