On February 17, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated five separate traffic crashes involving ISP squad cars. Two Troopers were struck in ISP District 9 – Springfield, one in ISP District 8 – Metamora, one in ISP District 10 – Pesotum and one in ISP District 2 – Elgin. Four of the five crashes were Move Over Law related.
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, at approximately 1:35 p.m., an ISP District 9 Trooper was conducting traffic control on the right shoulder of Interstate 55 southbound at Milepost 105 near Sherman, IL. The fully marked squad car was stationary with its emergency lights activated. A gray Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer combination driven by Juan Carlos Sanchez Serna, a 31-year-old male of Del Rio, TX, sideswiped the ISP squad car. Neither Sanchez Serna nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. Sanchez Serna was cited for Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle (Scott’s Law Violation) and Driving Too Fast for Conditions.
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, at approximately 3:24 p.m., an ISP District 8 Trooper was in the left lane of Interstate 39 southbound at Milepost 9, near El Paso, IL, attempting to shut down the lanes for a multi-vehicle crash. The squad car was stationary with its lights activated. A series of simultaneous crashes occurred, pushing a pickup truck into the rear of the ISP squad car. There were no injuries reported in the crash.
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, at approximately 6:30 p.m., an ISP District 10 Master Sergeant was parked, stationary, in the right lane of Interstate 74 westbound near mile post 177 in Champaign County IL, conducting traffic control for a tow truck.The squad car was stationary with its lights activated. A white 2014 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer combination, driven by Kadar Saleiman, a 35-year-old male of Houston, TX, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle, slid on the roadway and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car.Neither Saleiman nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. Saleiman was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.
“Inclement weather presents a greater risk to everyone, especially our Troopers working day and night to assist motorists on the road,” stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. He continued, “We need you, the motoring public, to help them out by Slowing Down and Moving Over when approaching first responders on the roadway. We want everyone to make it home safely.”
So far this year, there have been eight ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and three Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. The ISP would like to remind the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as the “Scott’s Law”. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or 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. Additional information can be found at the following link:
https://isp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=21430274bef64fc5a19d8dcc191ff3f8
***Report Courtesy of the Illinois State Police***
