State Trooper Hurt When I-80 Drunk Driver Strikes Squad: Cops

JOLIET, IL - An Illinois State Police trooper was treated and released from a local hospital after a Channahon man suspected of drunken driving plowed into his squad car on Sunday night during a traffic stop along I-80 near Joliet, authorities said.

Rodolpho Mejia, 45, of Channahon was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and he was also given a citation for a violation of Scott's Law. The crash occurred at 6:39 p.m. near Joliet's mile marker 128.

According to police, a District 5 trooper had activated his emergency lights to pull over a 2010 Nissan Altima along the westbound section of I-80 near Joliet.

The driver of the Nissan stopped his vehicle in the left lane of traffic, authorities said.

"The trooper then came to a complete stop and positioned his squad car directly behind the Nissan," police reports show.

Police said the trooper remained inside his squad car and ordered the driver to pull onto the left shoulder.

"At this time, a 2014 Ford Fusion who was also traveling westbound in the left lane approached the area, failed to yield to an emergency authorized vehicle and struck the rear of the trooper's squad car," police stated.

Witnesses at the scene who came upon the crash helped the Channahon man exit his Ford Fusion before it was engulfed in flames, according to the police.

The Nissan driver was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries and two passengers in the Nissan were not hurt, police said.

Illinois State Police stressed that the requirements of Scott's Law, otherwise known as the Move Over Law, mean that when you approach an emergency vehicle - or any vehicle with its hazards on - you are required to slow down and move over and change lanes if possible.

So far in 2019, Illinois State Police said it has had 13 troopers struck by other vehicles, including one fatality, while "handling on-duty incidents with their emergency lights activated."

"Please avoid a tragedy from occurring by making responsible driving choices before getting behind the wheel," declared District 5 Commander David Schneider.