CHICAGO – On December 17, 2023, at approximately 2:39 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a three-vehicle traffic crash involving an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) worker who was hit by a motorist who failed to move over on Interstate 57 northbound near 108th Street in Cook County.
On the above date and time, an IDOT maintenance truck was stationary, with emergency lights activated, providing traffic control for a prior crash on the right shoulder of Interstate 57 northbound.
The IDOT worker was outside of this maintenance truck placing flares on the roadway when a 2018 Nissan Rogue traveling northbound, struck a 2012 Audi in lane 2. After the collision, the Nissan failed to move over, striking the IDOT worker on the right shoulder of I-57.
The IDOT worker was transported to an area hospital with injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The driver of the Nissan, 29-year-old Kennethia D. Howliet of Chicago, Ill., was issued citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.
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:
https://isp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/340d57cd956c453da2de25af804c268d