In a late-night crash on New Year's Eve, an Illinois State Police officer and another motorist were injured when a DUI driver hammered into a stationary squad car during a traffic stop on Interstate 57. According to information provided by the Illinois State Police, the officer's vehicle was parked on the northbound entrance ramp from Halsted Street with emergency lights flashing when it was struck from behind by a Hyundai SUV.
The Hyundai's driver, identified as 24-year-old Lizabeth S. Williams of Dolton, Illinois, seemed to have disregarded the Move Over Law. As a result, her vehicle hit the police car and shoved it into the vehicle previously pulled over by the trooper. Injured in the accident, both Williams and the trooper were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver Williams crashed into reported no injuries at the scene.
Williams now faces charges including Scott’s Law – Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles, Driving Under the Influence, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident. The incident marks yet another reminder of the dangers faced by officers and the importance of Scott's Law.
The Illinois State Police have been vocal in their efforts to educate the public on the seriousness of the Move Over Law, commonly referred to as Scott's Law, which mandates drivers to slow down and switch lanes when approaching stationary emergency vehicles. Following the infraction, penalties can go as high as $10,000 for first-timers. Up until now, there have been 21 reported Move Over Law-related collisions involving the ISP in 2023, increasing concerns over traffic safety around emergency scenes.
