An Illinois State Trooper was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle that failed to move over while they were inside their vehicle investigating an earlier traffic accident on I-94 in Chicago, authorities said.
According to officials, the trooper was parked inside his vehicle at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday in the left lane of southbound I-94 near 111th Street and was dealing with a previous traffic accident when an Audi rear-ended the trooper’s squad car.
The squad was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Audi, 47-year-old Samuel Oatis III of Dolton, was transported to a local hospital along with his passenger with non-life threatening injuries.
Oatis was issued three summonses in connection with the crash, including following too closely and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
The crash marks the 24th Illinois 2024 crash related to Move Over Law, with eight troopers injured in the crash.
The Move Over Law, also known as “Scott’s Law”, requires all drivers to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated.