Illinois State Police trooper killed by car on I-55 before Christmas
JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) — An Illinois State Police trooper was hit and killed by a car in Will County near Channahon Monday night.
Police said Trooper Clay Carns, 35, spotted debris in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 north of Blodgett Road around 9:45 p.m., and turned on his squad car's emergency lights and pulled over on the right shoulder.
After he got out of the vehicle to pick up the debris, he was hit by a passing Chevrolet Silverado. Carns was taken to Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead.
On Tuesday evening, a black van left the parking lot of the Will County Coroner's office I Joliet---followed by several Illinois State Police cars with flashing lights. It was the very kind of somber procession that is typically seen when a department loses one of its own.
Meanwhile Tuesday, holiday traffic rushed past a roadside tribute in the form of a bouquet—honoring a trooper who won't be home for Christmas.
Trooper Carns served 11 years with ISP and was a husband and a father to two young kids. He was killed just before Christmas.
"Any time we lose a trooper hurts, but today is Christmas Eve here on December 24, so it kind of hurts in a particular way," ISP Director Brendan Kelly said. "Please remember when you are in your home, peacefully, safely enjoying your family tonight and tomorrow morning, Christmas Day, that's not a coincidence. That's not just some Christmas miracle. It's possible because a police officer made it possible."
ISP said the driver involved in this crash, 69-year-old John Fleet, of Wilmington, was charged with a violation of Scott's Law, which requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching an emergency vehicle or any other vehicle with its emergency lights or hazard lights activated. Violators could face fines of $250 to $10,000 for a first offense. Fleet also could have his driver's license suspended between six months and two years. Police said Fleet also received multiple traffic citations.
Police said, so far this year, there have been at least 26 Scott's Law-related crashes involving state troopers, with 12 troopers injured and one killed.
Monday was Scott's Law Day, a day to honor public safety workers and remind drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles or cars on the road.
The law is in memory of CFD Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway in 2000.
"Slow down and move over," said Kelly. We keep saying it. We keep saying it. We can't say it enough."
