An off-duty Bolingbrook police officer died Sunday morning after a car accident in Oswego while on his way to church with this wife, officials said.

Officer Sava Basic, 26, died after being ejected when the vehicle he was riding in crashed. The car left the road, hit a tree and rolled over around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, said Bolingbrook Police Lt. Mike Rompa.

His wife, Megan Ann Basic, 26, was the driver and sustained minor injuries, according to Rompa.

Sava Basic was transported an Aurora hospital, and was pronounced dead at 11 a.m.

Rompa said Basic was a Bolingbrook officer since 2008. He was a competitive weight lifter, representing the department as a power-lifting champion with a 600-pound bench press.

“He was an exemplary officer who was dedicated to the profession,” Rompa said.

The accident occurred in unincorporated Oswego, in the area of Stewart and Woolley Roads, according to the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the accident.

The following statement was issued today by the Bolingbrook Police Department:

“Officer Basic had a true gift of balance. He had the ability to deal with the toughest criminal element and was able to handle the community with compassion.

“Officer Basic had received awards for the apprehension of a narcotics dealer, an offender involved in a felony aggravated battery and a felony theft. On the lighter side, he received a letter of appreciation when he responded to call of a Christmas decoration being taken from a resident’s porch. He was able to locate the decoration and then took the time to calm the victims. The resident felt their holiday had been restored due to Officer Basic’s compassion and by reassuring them he would be frequently in their neighborhood.

“This is what made Officer Basic so special, his ability to adapt to the community’s needs.”