Wisconsin Man Charged With Reckless Homicide In Trooper's Death

NORTHBROOK, IL — A Wisconsin accountant was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of Illinois State Trooper fatally struck earlier this month on Interstate 294. Scott A. Larsen, 60, of Somers, was taken into custody by Kenosha County sheriff's deputies on a Cook County reckless homicide warrant, the Kenosha News reported. Larsen turned himself in to state police in Northbrook Monday morning ahead of a bond hearing Tuesday in Skokie.

Trooper Christopher Lambert, 34, of Highland Park, was on his way home in his patrol car at the end of a shift on the afternoon Jan. 12 when he stopped to help at the scene of a three-vehicle crash in the left lane, authorities said.

State police said Lambert was outside his patrol car handling the crash when another vehicle "failed to stop" and struck him. An off-duty nurse provided CPR and Lambert was taken to Glenbrook Hospital, where he was was pronounced dead around 7:30 p.m. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Lambert's death an accident from blunt force injuries. The other driver remained on scene and cooperated with law enforcement, with weather was believed to have contributed to the crash, according to ISP Director Leo Schmitz.

In court Friday in Kenosha, Larsen waived his right to extradition and confirmed he was at the scene, according to the Kenosha News. His attorney said he was cooperative with law enforcement and was not drunk at the time of the crash. Larsen is a Kenosha-based certified public accountant, where he also operates a business called Payroll for Pastors to provide accounting services to churches.

Prosecutors approved three class 2 felony charges. Reckless homicide of a police officer and two counts of reckless homicide involving Scott's Law. A bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Larsen has been convicted of criminal driving offenses in the past. The Kenosha News reported he pleaded guilty to DUI and felony recklessly endangering safety in connection with a September 2014 incident in Milwaukee County. According to WITI-TV in Milwaukee, Larsen had more than twice the legal limit and was driving the wrong way on the road only on rims when he nearly struck an ambulance. After being found urinating on the side of the road when police arrived, Larsen was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, which he successfully petitioned to end in December 2017, the News reported.

Lambert, a Dayton, Ohio native and U.S. Army veteran, is survived by his parents, wife and 1-year-old daughter. His memorial services in South Barrington were attended by hundreds of law enforcement from across the country.

"He left this world in the way in which he lived: putting the well-being and happiness of those around him before his own," Lambert's family said in a statement. "We will always remember his devotion to his wife and daughter, his dedication to his career and community, and the love and laughter that he shared with us."

UPDATE: Reckless Driver Killed Trooper Passing On Shoulder: Prosecutors