Illinois State Police (ISP) are reminding drivers to obey Scott’s Law after a state trooper was struck by a passing big rig while gathering information from another truck driver on Tuesday.
The incident took place at 7:25 a.m. on October 18 in Effingham, Illinois, as a trooper was investigating a previous vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic crash.
ISP says that the trooper was parked on the shoulder behind a semi truck on the ramp from U.S. Route 45 to Interstate 57 southbound in Effingham. The trooper’s cruiser had emergency lights activated.
“The Trooper was gathering information from the driver of the truck-tractor semi-trailer (TTST) involved in an earlier hit-and-run. The Trooper was on the driver’s side external floorboard of the TTST’s cab partially in the vehicle, when a passing TTST struck the Trooper and the cab,” ISP said.
The trooper was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Texas-based truck driver Eric D. Trevino, 42, was cited for violation of Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle.
ISP is reminding drivers to move over for emergency vehicles:
There have been 19 ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and eight Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. ISP is reminding the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as the “Scott’s Law.” When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or 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.