Trooper Injured in Scott's Law-Related Crash on I-94
CHICAGO (WREX) — An Illinois State Police (ISP) trooper was injured in a crash related to Scott's Law on I-94 near 130th St. at approximately 10 p.m. Monday.
Authorities reported that Trooper Larry Smith, age 33, is facing charges for violating the Move Over Law after his Chevrolet Impala collided with the trooper's parked squad car, which had its emergency lights activated while responding to an earlier incident.
The trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, while Smith did not report any injuries. In addition to the Scott's Law violation, Smith has been charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and Following Too Closely.
This incident marks the fifth Scott's Law-related crash involving an ISP squad car this year. Last year, ISP recorded 27 such incidents, which resulted in the injuries of 12 troopers and the death of Trooper Clay Carns in December.
Scott's Law mandates that drivers must slow down and move over when approaching vehicles with flashing emergency lights. Violating this law for the first time can result in fines ranging from $250 to $10,000, and if someone is injured as a result, the driver's license may be suspended for six months to two years.
For more details on Scott's Law incidents, visit the Illinois State Police Squad Car Crash Dashboard.