4 State Police Vehicles Hit In Multiple Crashes On Same Day: IL Authorities

Four Illinois State Police vehicles were struck in multiple crashes on Monday that left five people injured in total, two of whom were troopers, authorities said.

The first incident occurred around 4 a.m. on westbound Interstate 80 near Houbolt Road in Will County, when a squad that was stopped behind a crash scene with emergency lights on was sideswiped by a passing vehicle, according to police, who said the trooper inside the squad was not hurt and the striking driver received a Move Over Law citation.

The second crash happened 10 minutes later when another trooper was assisting in the same area and a different passing vehicle hit a vehicle involved in the initial crash, causing the struck vehicle to make contact with the second trooper’s squad, police said. No one was hurt and the second striking driver was cited for a Mover Ove Law violation as well, according to police.

The third incident, caused by weather-related road conditions, occurred around 4:25 p.m. on westbound Interstate 88 near Illinois Route 78 in Whiteside County when a trooper was stopped with emergency lights on, helping a driver who slid off the road, and a car lost control and struck the rear of the trooper’s squad, police said. The trooper inside the squad suffered injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, according to police, who said an investigation was ongoing and charges may be filed.

The final crash took place around 4:45 p.m. on northbound Interstate 57 at milepost 295 in Ashkum in Iroquois County, police said. A trooper was stopped on the shoulder with emergency lights on, helping a driver, when a semitrailer hit the back of the trooper's squad, pushing it into the vehicle the trooper was assisting, according to police. The trooper was taken to a hospital with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening and three other people involved in the crash were also injured, police said, adding the semi driver received a Move Over Law citation.

“ISP reminds the public the Move Over Law, also known as ‘Scott’s Law,’ in Illinois, requires all drivers to slow down and move over when approaching an emergency vehicle, emergency worker, or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated,” state police said in a news release.

​A person who violates the Move Over Law faces a fine of $250 to $10,000 for a first offense, according to police. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for six months to two years, police said.