SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Distracted and careless drivers struck four Illinois State Police squad cars in less than 12 hours on March 16, 2026. Three drivers failed to move over for troopers running emergency lights. A fourth driver lost control in wet weather. Two troopers ended up in the hospital with serious injuries after the crash.
Crash #1 — 4:00 a.m., I-80, Will County — ISP Troop 3
At approximately 4 a.m., a trooper from ISP Troop 3 sat inside his squad car on westbound I-80 near Houbolt Road, parked behind a crash scene with emergency lights flashing. A passing driver ignored the lights, failed to move over, and sideswiped the driver’s side of the squad car. The trooper walked away uninjured. Officers cited the driver for a Move Over Law violation. This marked ISP’s 5th Move Over Law crash of 2026.
Crash #2 — 4:10 a.m., I-80, Will County — ISP Troop 3
Just ten minutes later, a second ISP Troop 3 trooper arrived to assist at the same scene. Another passing driver again failed to move over, slammed into one of the already-crashed vehicles, and pushed it directly into the second trooper’s squad car. No one reported injuries. Officers cited that driver for a Move Over Law violation as well. This brought ISP to its 6th Move Over Law crash of 2026.
Crash #3 — 4:45 p.m., I-57, Iroquois County — ISP Troop 5
The day’s most serious crash hit at approximately 4:45 p.m. on northbound I-57 at milepost 295 in Ashkum. An ISP Troop 5 trooper from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau stood on the shoulder with emergency lights running, helping a stranded motorist. A tractor-trailer driver failed to move over, plowed into the rear of the squad car, and drove it forward into the vehicle the trooper was assisting. The trooper went to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Three other people in the crash also sustained injuries. Officers cited the truck driver for a Move Over Law violation. This became ISP’s 7th Move Over Law crash of 2026.
Crash #4 — 4:25 p.m., I-88, Whiteside County — ISP Troop 1
Around 4:25 p.m., an ISP Troop 1 trooper pulled onto the shoulder of westbound I-88 near IL-78 at milepost 23.5, emergency lights on, helping a motorist who had slid off the road. A sedan then lost control, slid across the roadway, and slammed into the rear of the squad car. The trooper inside suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators are still working the crash, and the State’s Attorney’s Office may file charges depending on the outcome.
Move Over Law — By the Numbers
ISP has now recorded seven Move Over Law crashes in 2026 alone. In 2025, drivers caused 15 such crashes and injured seven troopers. In 2024, those numbers climbed to 27 crashes, 12 injuries, and one trooper death.
Illinois law — known as Scott’s Law — requires every driver to slow down and move over when approaching any emergency vehicle or vehicle displaying emergency or hazard lights. A first offense costs between $250 and $10,000 in fines. If the violation injures someone, the driver loses their license for a mandatory six months to two years.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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