State Trooper Almost Killed: Joliet Culprit Pleads Guilty

JOLIET, IL — On Friday evening, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that Angel Casillas, 23, of Joliet, pled guilty to a felony crime for causing the vehicular crash that left Illinois State Police Trooper Brian Frank with serious and ongoing injuries.

Will County Circuit Court Judge Bertani-Tomczak set a sentencing date of August 14 after hearing testimony and victim statements at a sentencing hearing on Friday.

According to the State's Attorney's Office:

On February 15, 2021, Trooper Frank was working with other District 5 troopers on a single-vehicle crash on I55 just north of Route 30.

The crash was about a half-mile north of U.S. 30 in the left lane against the center median wall of I55. As the scene was being cleared, Trooper Frank positioned his fully-marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights activated just south of the crash to assist in diverting traffic from the left lane and help protect the towing company and emergency personnel on the scene.

He also deployed three emergency flares behind his patrol vehicle to help divert and control traffic out of the left lane.

About 30 minutes after Trooper Frank had positioned his vehicle and the flares, a black 2010 Cadillac driven by Angel Casillas was travelling northbound in the left lane. The front of the Cadillac collided with the rear of Trooper Frank’s patrol car.

The Cadillac continued northbound in the left lane, coming to an uncontrolled final rest upright near the center median wall. Trooper Frank was airlifted from the scene and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with serious injuries.

Although the posted speed limit on that area of the highway is 65 mph, Casillas was traveling at a speed of between 82 and 89 mph.

Additionally, Trooper Frank’s in-car squad video camera showed that his car had been stationary at the location for approximately 24 minutes before being struck by Casillas’ vehicle.

During that time, more than 480 vehicles traveling northbound in the center and right lanes of northbound I-55 safely navigated around Trooper Frank’s fully marked ISP vehicle with emergency lights activated and emergency flares deployed.

Because of his Scott's Law violation, Casillas is eligible for a sentence ranging from probation to one to three years in prison, to be served at 50 percent.