WESTCHESTER – On July 14, 2023, at approximately 3:58 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a three-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper’s squad car on the Mannheim Road ramp to Interstate 290 eastbound, Westchester, Cook County.
On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 3 Trooper was stationary on the right shoulder of Mannheim Road Ramp to Interstate 290 eastbound with emergency lights activated, conducting a traffic stop.
A Ford Transit Z50 was travelling eastbound and attempted to pass a Freightliner Truck-Tractor/Semi-Trailer on the single-lane ramp from Mannheim, striking the rear right side of the Semi-Trailer.
The Ford failed to move over and sideswiped the driver’s side mirror of the ISP squad car.
The Trooper was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash but was uninjured.
The driver of the Ford, 36-year-old James C. Johnson of Chicago, IL, was also uninjured. Johnson was issued citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash, and Improper Lane Usage.
So far this year, ISP has had 12 Move Over Law-related crashes. In 2022, ISP had 23 Move Over Law-related crashes where eight Troopers sustained injuries.
ISP is reminding the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as “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: