ILLINOIS STATE POLICE SQUAD CAR STRUCK ON INTERSTATE 94 IN COOK COUNTY
ISP Experiences 5th Move Over Law-Related Crash of 2025
April 8, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2025
CHICAGO – Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a traffic crash that occurred on Interstate 94 involving an ISP trooper, who was handling a previous traffic crash, when their squad car was struck by a driver who failed to move over.
On April 7, 2025, at approximately 10:03 p.m., an ISP trooper was handling a traffic crash on Interstate 94 near 130th Street in Chicago. The trooper was parked in lane 3, the far-right lane, with emergency lights activated. The trooper was seated inside their squad car, and the squad car was struck in the rear by a Chevrolet Impala that failed to move over. The trooper was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Impala, 33-year-old Larry Smith from Chicago, Illinois, reported no injuries on scene. Smith was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, Following Too Closely, and a Move Over Law violation.
In 2025, ISP has already suffered five Move Over Law-related crashes. In 2024, ISP suffered 27 Move Over Law-related crashes with 12 troopers injured and one death. In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured. ISP reminds the public the Move Over Law, also known as “Scott’s Law” in Illinois, 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 about ISP related crashes can be found at the following link: https://isp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/340d57cd956c453da2de25af804c268d.
The charges are not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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