Squad car struck near Dwight

Photo courtesy of Illinois State Police.

A State Police squad car was struck on Interstate 55 near Dwight early Tuesday.

The ISP trooper was reportedly handling a previous crash when the trooper’s squad was struck by a driver who failed to move over.

A news release indicates the trooper was parked in the right lane of I-55 behind a disabled vehicle involved in a previous crash with emergency lights activated. A Chevrolet Express van failed to move over and struck the rear driver’s side of the squad car.

No injuries were reported, although the trooper was inside the car at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Samuel Gomez, 59, of Omaha, was charged with driving too fast for conditions, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and a Scott’s Law/Move Over Law violation.

State Police have already suffered ten Move Over Law-related crashes during 2025.

The public is reminded to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle with emergency lights activated or any vehicle with hazard lights activated. This is required by law and violators face a fine ranging from $250 to $10,000 for the first offense.