Joliet Firefighter Deemed Brain Dead After Motorcycle Accident

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) -- A Joliet firefighter was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Interstate 80 at the start of the weekend, and he is not expected to recover.

Joliet Fire Lt. Terry Foster was riding west on I-80 around 10 p.m. when he was thrown off his bike near Chicago Street, where there is a noticeable bump in the pavement from current road construction. Foster and other motorcyclists were returning home from a Kid Rock concert in Tinley Park.

According to reports, he was not wearing a helmet.

Foster was reportedly conscious and recognized the firefighters from Station Three who arrived to transport him to Silver Cross Hospital.

"It was determined that he had a brain bleed. He was then flown to Loyola University Hospital and received brain surgery Saturday morning," Chief Joe Formhals said in a statement.

Throughout the next day, doctors attempted to relieve Foster's intercranial pressure, but tests performed Sunday morning confirmed he no longer had any brain activity, Formhals said.

Foster, the father of two young girls, joined the department April 6, 1998, and was assigned to the A shift at Station 9.

He was a regular winner over police officers in the annual Ryder Cup golf tournament and was also a member of the dive team.

"He loved coming to work and always had a smile on his face. He was one of those guys who never thought about himself," Capt. Ron Fox said.

While saddened to be speaking of his colleague in the past tense, Fox noted Foster would be glad part of his death illustrates how he lived — helping others.

Foster's family has decided to keep him on life support so his organs can be donated.

The Joliet Herald News contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire.