In the early hours of September 2, 2025, an Illinois State Police (ISP) Trooper had a brush with danger while attending to a previous crash along I-55. According to a report from 25News, the Trooper's car was struck by a passing Chevrolet Express van which failed to comply with the Move Over Law, also known as "Scott's Law."
This marks the tenth such incident this year, continuing a troubling trend observed in recent years—27 crashes in 2024 and 21 in 2023, per information shared by myradiolink.com. Fortunately for the involved Trooper, they emerged without injuries despite the alarming circumstances, their squad car had to be towed from the crash site due to the damage incurred.
The driver at the center of this incident, Samuel Gomez of Omaha, Nebraska, is facing multiple preliminary charges. Among them are driving too fast for conditions, operating an uninsured vehicle, and violating Scott’s Law. Scott's Law mandates that drivers slow down and change lanes when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, under penalty of a hefty fine and potential license suspension when injuries occur.
Illinois State Police continue to stress the importance of Scott’s Law for the safety of their personnel and the public. A person who disregards this statute can face fines ranging between $250 and $10,000, and risk driver’s license suspension for six months to two years if their actions cause injury.
