State Police Squad Car Struck On I-80, Oak Lawn Man Charged In Crash: State Police

NEW LENOX, IL — An Illinois State Police squad car was struck on I-80 near New Lenox Sunday, when an Oak Lawn man failed to slow down to avoid it, state police said Tuesday.

On Feb. 15, just after 11 p.m., an ISP Trooper with emergency lights activated was relocating a disabled vehicle partially in the lane to the shoulder of I-80 west near milepost 138.

A Mercedes-Benz SUV—driven by Imani Tribett, 26, of Oak Lawn—struck the front right side of the squad car after Tribett allegedly failed to slow down, state police said. The trooper and driver of the disabled vehicle were inside of their vehicles at the time of the crash and were uninjured.

Tribett was taken to an area hospital with injuries. He was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and a Scott’s Law/Move Over Law violation.

The squad car required towing due to disabling damage.

Illinois State Police report it is the 4th Move Over Law-related crash of 2026, to date.

In 2025, ISP reported 15 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven Troopers injured. In 2024, ISP had 27 Move Over Law-related crashes with 12 injuries and one death. 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.

A person who violates the Move Over Law faces a fine of no less than $250 and no more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.