'Man Of Deep Integrity, Steady Courage': Stretch Of I-55 Renamed In Memory Of Fallen State Trooper

ORLAND PARK, IL — A fallen Illinois State trooper and beloved Orland Park man will be memorialized on a stretch of I-55, the Illinois legislature has approved.

Trooper Clay Carns, 35, died Dec. 23, 2024, after being struck while clearing debris from the southbound lanes of I-55. His squad car had been parked on the shoulder, with lights on, when he was hit by a pickup truck driven by John Fleet, 70, of Wilmington. Carns—an Orland Park resident, husband and father of two—died from his injuries an hour later.

Carns had served with the Illinois State Police for more than a decade.

State Sen. Emil Jones III recently made a push to rename a portion of the highway on which he was struck to Carns. Both chambers have adopted the resolution, and I-55 from mile marker 243 to 244—both southbound and northbound—is now designated as the "ISP Trooper Clay M. Carns Memorial Highway."

"Trooper Carns died doing the same thing he had done every day for 11 years—diligently and faithfully serving the people of Illinois," said Jones (D-Chicago). "This resolution is only a small token of our immense gratitude for his life and service."

Signage will soon go up denoting it as "ISP Trooper Clay M. Carns Memorial Highway."

The family called the dedication a fitting memorial for the man they loved, who was so devoted to public service.

"Our family is incredibly grateful for the people who have worked so hard to keep Clay’s memory alive," Carns' family told Patch. "Even a year and a half later, we are still overwhelmed with the stories of the lives he touched during his time on this earth. We couldn’t think of a more deserving man to honor than our Clay. He was a man of deep integrity, steady courage, with a heart for others. What an honor to see his name when driving past a place that brings our family such pain."

READ ALSO: 'Makes You Feel Invisible': Family Of State Trooper Killed On I-55 Frustrated As Court Case Drags On

Carns served with the Illinois State Police for 11 years and during his tenure had received the Violent Crime Expressway Ribbon for his work in helping combat gun violence and interstate shootings, as well as the departmental Medal of Honor commendation, a unit Meritorious Performance Award, and seven honorable mentions. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children.

"Let us commit to keeping Trooper Carns’ memory alive by ensuring no more senseless deaths like this occur on our highways," said Jones. "Drivers must always slow down or move over for emergency or construction vehicles. Doing so is not only following the law—it saves lives."

The driver who struck Carns was charged with a class 4 felony under Scott’s Law and a second offense of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. He faces a sentence ranging from probation to three years in prison for the violation of Scott’s Law, which states that drivers must move over or significantly slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights.

Court proceedings against Fleet are ongoing, with a plea deal extended and a continuance last issued in late May at Fleet's request, according to court records. In March, Fleet's attorney, Dan Walsh, filed a motion requesting that the truck Fleet drove the night he struck Carns be returned to him, a request that floored Carns' family. That matter has also been continued.

"We’re kind of feeling jerked around," Carns' sister Erica Raciak previously told Patch. "Even with our experience with the court system. It’s very strange that all of this is being entertained."

The matter was continued, according to court records, posing yet another delay in closure for the family, Raciak said. Additionally, the Will County State's Attorney's Office in late January extended a plea deal to Fleet—which he to date has not yet indicated if he will accept.

Carns' wife, Meghan, has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fleet. Filed in August 2025, the suit accuses Fleet of several counts of negligence, including failure to exercise reasonable care in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance and control of his vehicle.

"As a direct and proximate result of one or more of the aforementioned acts and or omissions, plaintiff's descendant, Clay Carns, sustained injuries resulting in his death on Dec. 23, 2024," Meghan Carns' lawsuit declared. The lawsuit seeks a monetary judgment in excess of $50,000 against Fleet. A status hearing was held June 3.

The case remains active, according to court records. As the legal battles play out, Raciak and the rest of Carns' family navigate their grief, saying the court process "makes you feel invisible."

Led by his brother Chad in coordination with trooper-run non-profit Got Your 6 Foundation, efforts to memorialize Carns continue. Plans include a park to honor his life and service, to be built in their hometown of Pinckneyville, Illinois. The park is envisioned to include a sculpture of Carns posed in uniform. The monument would be a fitting tribute to Carns, who dedicated 11 years as an ISP officer assigned to Troop 3.

He was recognized as one of the 100 Club of Illinois 2024 Valor Award recipients. The award is presented annually to police officers, firefighters and paramedics who, by their actions, performed above and beyond the call of duty and in the highest traditions of their respective departments, according to the 100 Club of Illinois' website.

"To say Clay was one of the best humans I’ve ever known is an understatement," Robert Pagliaro, founder of Got Your 6 Foundation previously told Patch. "He was such a good dude. We are definitely less without him. ... I am not the same cop as I was before."

Fleet's next court date is set for June 23, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge John O'Connor in room 403. It again is designated as a final plea/trial date set.