Community members are preparing to pay their last respects to Illinois State Police Trooper Clay Carns. This Thursday, a visitation will be held for the 35-year-old, whose end of watch came tragically just days before Christmas. Carns was struck by a vehicle while performing his duties on I-55 near Channahon, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. The accident punctuated an eleven-year commitment to serving the public, a tenure cut heartbreakingly short.
The details shared by CBS News Chicago reveal that Carns had activated his lights and had pulled over to cautiously remove debris from the road at the time of the collision. In a bitter twist of fate, the driver involved in the crash has been charged with violating Scott's Law, which mandates drivers to change lanes to safeguard emergency personnel—a law that, on that same day, was being celebrated for its protective purpose.
Police officer Carns leaves behind a family that includes his wife, two children, siblings, and parents. The visitation is scheduled from 1 to 8 p.m. at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park. It is a time for the community and fellow first responders, who will have their walkthrough at 6 p.m., to honor a life dedicated to service.
The funeral services are set for Friday at 10 a.m. at the same church, followed by a procession to the cemetery in Alsip.
