8th Scott’s Law related crash of 2023

Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving a trooper’s squad car on Interstate 74 in Champaign County.  This (Wed) morning's crash at 2 am is yet another reminder for drivers to slow down and move over when emergency lights are activated.  The driver of a Mack-truck, 46-year-old Thomas Mbonga of Urbana was issued citations for Scott's Law - Failure to Yield to a Stationary Emergency Vehicle and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident. 

This happened in westbound I-74 in a construction zone.  All traffic at the time was being diverted off Interstate 74 westbound onto exit 197 for construction in the area. A Mack truck tractor hauling three truck tractor units, traveling westbound, failed to follow the designated traffic diversion, drove through the barricades, struck the Exit 197 sign, and then struck the rear and driver side of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash and was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

ISP is reminding the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as “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.

94.1 WGFA