CHICAGO – On August 31, 2024, at approximately 2:20 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a traffic crash in Cook County involving an ISP trooper hit by a motorist who failed to move over.
On the above date and time, an ISP trooper’s marked squad car was parked in Lane 1 on Interstate 94 southbound near 111th Street with emergency lights activated, while the trooper was handling a previous traffic crash.
The trooper was inside of the squad car when an Audi struck the rear of the squad car. The trooper was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Audi, 47-year-old Samuel Oatis III of Dolton, IL., and his passenger were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Oatis was cited for the Move Over Law – Failure to Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle, Following Too Closely, and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.
Already in 2024, ISP has suffered 17 Move Over Law-related crashes with eight troopers injured.
In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured and suffered 25 crashes in 2022, leaving 13 troopers injured.
ISP reminds the public that the Move Over Law, also known as “Scott’s Law,” requires all drivers to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated.
A person who violates the Move Over Law faces a fine of no less than $250 and no 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.