Officer Malik Baker Dies in East St Louis Car Accident, Another St. Louis Officer Dies After Cancer Battle

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police lost two police officers on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, one to illness and another in a fatal car accident in East St. Louis, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has announced.

District 4 Officer Malik Baker was killed in a car accident on Interstate 55 in Illinois while driving to work. The crash occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on southbound I-55 in East St. Louis, according to the Illinois State Police.

ISP said Baker was driving a Toyota SUV and was traveling behind a Ford van carrying a trailer when he collided with the back of the van. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the van was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries.

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Officer Baker had served the City of St. Louis for nearly four years. The police department described both officers as having served the community with honor and commitment.

District 2 Sergeant James Sanders, a 31-year veteran, died after a prolonged battle with cancer. Despite his illness, Sanders remained a committed member of the department.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department asked the public to keep the families, friends, and department members in their thoughts and prayers.

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