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Emails: Secrecy sought in Ill. trooper crash case

(via Flickr/essygie)

The Illinois workers' compensation arbitrator assigned to the case of a state trooper involved in a fatal crash sought to keep a public hearing in the case secret.

That's according to emails obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat.

Jennifer Teague emailed her court reporter that parties planned to hold the hearing "on the sly with no press."

The date, time and place of the public hearing were changed with no notification.

Then-Illinois State Trooper Matt Mitchell was driving 126 mph, talking on his cell phone and emailing when he caused the crash that killed two teens in 2007.

Mitchell is seeking worker's compensation because of injuries suffered in the wreck. Teague will decide whether he's eligible to receive it.

Messages left for Teague early Wednesday weren't immediately returned.