CHANNAHON, Ill. (AP/ISP) — A 35-year old Illinois State Police trooper has died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 55, the latest of more than two dozen roadside crashes involving state police this year, authorities announced Tuesday.
Trooper Clay Carns was on I-55 roughly 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) outside Chicago around 9:45 p.m. Monday when he spotted debris on the roadway. He pulled onto the shoulder, turned on his emergency lights and left his vehicle, then was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado, according to state police.
Carns was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead late Monday. He was an 11-year veteran of the department.
“This is a sad day for the Illinois State Police as we mourn the death of Trooper Clay M. Carns, who was killed while serving the people of Illinois and working to keep our roadways safe,” ISP Director Brendan Kelly said in a statement Tuesday.
Authorities said 69-year-old John Fleet of Wilmington will face charges under the state’s “Move Over Law,” which requires motorists approaching vehicles along the roadside to slow down and change lanes to provide more space. It’s also known as Scott’s Law in memory of Chicago Fire Lt. Scott Gillen, who was assisting at a crash scene in 2000 when he was struck and killed.
Fleet was not injured and remained on scene.
State police said Tuesday’s fatal crash is the 26th in 2024 related to the “Move Over Law.” The crashes have left 12 other state troopers injured.
