On October 18, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated two separate Scott’s Law Violations that occurred less than an hour apart involving injury to a trooper and two deaths. The first violation involved a traffic crash in District 12 - Effingham where an ISP Trooper received minor injuries. The second violation involved two construction workers who were fatally injured while setting out construction barrels in District 14 – near Burlington, IA.
On October 18, 2022, at approximately 7:25 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic crash involving an ISP District 12 Trooper, on the ramp from U.S. Route 45 to Interstate 57 southbound in Effingham. The Trooper was on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated, parked behind a truck-tractor semi-trailer (TTST), while investigating a traffic crash. The Trooper was gathering information from the driver of the TTST involved in an earlier hit-and-run. The Trooper was on the driver’s side external floorboard of the TTST’s cab partially in the vehicle, when a passing TTST struck the Trooper and the cab. The Trooper was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been treated and released. The uninjured driver of the passing TTST, 42-year-old Eric D. Trevino of Temple Bell, TX, was issued a citation for a violation of Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle.
Also, on October 18, 2022, at approximately 8:03 a.m., two construction workers from a Burlington, IA company were struck and killed after being hit by a passenger car. The workers were walking behind their stationary pickup truck and trailer, which had its yellow construction lights activated, setting construction barrels for a work zone on the Great River Bridge of U.S Route 34 westbound as it crosses the Mississippi River. A 2016 Mazda CX5 traveling westbound struck a barrel and continued on, striking the two construction workers causing fatal injuries.
The workers are identified as Pearson J. Franklin, 20-year-old of New London, IA and Andrew Whitcomb, 35-year-old of Burnside, IL. The driver of the Mazda, Emily Johnson, 21-year-old of Gladstone, IL, was written citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle, Improper Use of Electronic Communication Device, and Failure To Reduce Speed To Avoid a Crash. Johnson received minor injuries as a result of the crash.
There have been 19 ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and eight Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. ISP is reminding 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
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 4:40 pm:
Why wasn’t Ms. Johnson charged with a couple of manslaughters as well as the tickets? She killed 2 people. And if it was because she was on her phone, that is clearly a case of callous disregard.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 4:45 pm:
One of the easiest things to do for the safety and well being of law enforcement and frankly every and any person on the dude of the road.
Those serving the state as Troopers deserve a safe place to help, it’s a simple thing to do.
- Kayak - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 5:00 pm:
Slow down. Turn on the hazard lights to notify everyone there is a hazard.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 5:21 pm:
Seconding cermak-rd, in both the two deaths alleged to have been caused by Ms. Johnson and in other incidents, particularly in Chicago, in which pedestrians and bicyclists are seriously injured or killed by cars and get the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.
“Failure to yield” and “failure to reduce speed” tickets don’t seem just when lives are lost due to grossly negligent driving.
- amalia - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 5:28 pm:
oh, how sad. so sorry for the loss of those people and the injury. drive safer.
- The Magnificent Purple Walnut - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 5:46 pm:
The initial charges most likely do not need approval from the States Attorney’s office. They can be amended/upgraded if the S.A. deems appropriate. Tragic and completely avoidable.
- The Dude - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 6:09 pm:
I sort of feel like people going to work and being struck by vehicles is an OSHA issue as well as a police issue.
Maybe osha should require the police to pull over in a safe location for most traffic stops and no worker should exposed to traffic without a trail vehicle with protection system.
- clec dcn - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 6:15 pm:
This it so terrible and all I see on interstates is those going through the construction sites as too fast. They are way over the speed limit These are people’s lives at stake keeping your roads in order. How crazy to not slow down.
- Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 7:06 pm:
News conferences and public service spots don’t solve this problem because the offenders are not swayed by those. They are narcissists and solipsists, and safety rules are irrelevant to them. Two things might have an effect; them seeing the cop car ready to intercept them immediately, or, you could get the people who ride with such drivers to pressure the violator to behave. That doesn’t work for single passenger cars. Very public and harsh penalties including vehicle seizure and actual jail time might get a solipsist’s attention. But they consider themselves immortal and untouchable.
- Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 8:03 pm:
My posts must be stuck in traffic. I’ll repeat; the bad drivers don’t respond to news and public service announcements because they find rules and norms irrelevant and non-applicable. They only respond to a direct threat ofvatop and arrest by a visible cop, (and as in the recent case not even that because of texting) or they might respond to a family member or passenger calling them out.
- Doc - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 8:58 pm:
On a recent driving trip through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, my companions and I noticed we were (almost) the only drivers to always pull over for vehicles pulled off on the side of the interstate. Illinois legislators and law enforcement are to be commended for doing what they have to minimize this kind of horrible event, even though they still occur.
- Leslie K - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 9:53 pm:
===Maybe osha should require the police to pull over in a safe location for most traffic stops===
Troopers work on interstates. The only thing that mitigates the danger is other drivers paying attention, slowing down, and moving over. What location would you suggest? Down a steep ravine so they aren’t on the shoulder?
And I echo those who are hoping that more serious charges will follow.
- Homebody - Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 11:43 pm:
As the old saying goes: the best way to kill someone and serve no time is to kill them with a car.
- DownStateSally - Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
As the wife of an IDOT worker who has no choice but to stop and work on the side of the road to DO HIS JOB, I do not understand the blatant discourtesy involved in failing to move over — for anyone on the side of the road — regardless of flashing lights and employment status. If you are blocked in and can’t move over, at least slow down. Stop driving like you are the only person on the road, look down the road a mile or two instead of at the end of your hood (assuming you aren’t on the phone), and pay attention to your surroundings.
- Snarkie from Schaumburg - Wednesday, Oct 19, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
Snark turned off: Slow the &^$ DOWN! Snark back on.