COUNTRYSIDE – The Illinois State Police has announced the 13th and 14th Scott’s Law related crash in 2023.
No. 13 occurred on September 14, 2023, at approximately 2:39 a.m., when Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper’s squad car on the shoulder of Interstate 55 southbound near LaGrange Road in Cook County.
On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 3 Trooper was stationary on the left shoulder of Interstate 55 southbound near LaGrange Road with emergency lights activated, waiting for a tow truck for an abandoned vehicle. A Toyota Camry drove onto the left shoulder and struck the rear of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was outside of the squad car at the time of the crash and was uninjured. The driver of the Toyota, 36-year-old Martin Analco of Chicago, IL, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Analco was charged with Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and issued citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle, Driving with a Revoked License, Illegal Transportation of Open Alcohol, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash, and Improper Lane Usage.
The 14th Scott’s Law crash happened September 15, 2023, at approximately 10:40 p.m., when Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper’s squad car on the ramp from Interstate 90 southbound to Washington Street, Chicago, Cook County.
On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 3 Trooper was stationary on the ramp from of Interstate 90 southbound to Washington Street, with emergency lights activated, horizontally angled to block traffic for the Mexican Independence Day Celebration.
The Trooper repositioned his squad car to allow an emergency vehicle to pass, when a Jeep attempted to travel onto the ramp and struck the rear of the ISP squad car with their front driver’s side bumper.
The Trooper was uninjured. The driver of the Jeep, 31-year-old Jose M. Lazo of Chicago, IL, was uninjured. Lazo was issued citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle and No Valid License- Expired.
So far this year, ISP has had 14 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.