WOODFORD COUNTY, Ill. — A 71-year-old Wisconsin man was cited Thursday for a Scott’s Law violation after his vehicle struck an Illinois State Police cruiser, injuring a sergeant.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. in a construction zone in Woodford County on northbound I-39, near mile marker 18.
ISP Public Information Officer Mindy Carrol said the sergeant was stopped, with lights on, protecting the construction zone, when the crash occurred.
“Anytime there are workers out along Illinois highways, they will send a trooper out to basically position his car so that people are aware,” Carrol said.
The driver’s car veered for unknown reasons over the center line, into the left lane, hitting a construction barrel, the sergeant’s vehicle, then several other barrels before coming to a stop, according to Carrol.
The sergeant was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Wisconsin driver also suffered minor injuries in the crash.
The Move Over Law, or Scott’s Law, requires Illinois drivers to yield to stationary emergency vehicles pulled over on the side of the road.
“The minimum fine is no less than $250. For a second, or subsequent offense, it’s no less than $750,” Carrol said.
Carrol added, if serious injury or death occurs in the crash, the driver is charged with a Class 4 felony.
“There are just so many construction zones out there. We just want people to pay attention,” Carrol said.
