Trooper's Car Hit During I-80 Traffic Stop, Driver Injured

NEW LENOX, IL — A 21-year-old Naperville woman is charged with reckless driving after state police say she struck a trooper's squad car while the trooper was conducting a traffic stop on I-80. The Naperville woman's vehicle also struck a Honda that had been stopped by the trooper, injuring the driver.

Illinois State Police said that just after 11:30 p.m. Monday, the trooper was inside his marked squad car, which was stopped with emergency lights activated, on the shoulder of I-80 westbound at Francis Road near New Lenox. The trooper had stopped a white Honda, which was also pulled over and stopped.

Police say a silver Chevrolet driven by 21-year-old Cheyenne T. Payton of Naperville failed to yield to the emergency vehicle and hit the driver's side of the squad car before continuing forward and hitting the rear end of the Honda.

The driver of the Honda was taken to an area hospital with injuries, according to police.

Neither the trooper nor Payton were injured. Payton was arrested and charged with reckless driving, and she was cited for a violation of Scott’s Law, as well as other Illinois Vehicle Code violations.

State police are reminding the public of Scott's Law. When approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with lights activated, or any stopped vehicle with hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down, change lanes if they can do so safely and in all cases proceed with caution.

"It is especially important now, as winter is fast approaching, to be aware of emergency vehicles and stranded motorists on the side of the roadway," said state police District 5 Interim Commander Lt. David Keltner. "Please avoid an unnecessary tragedy by making responsible choices when behind the wheel. We would like to remind the public to obey all traffic laws, including the 'Move Over' (Scott’s) Law, in order to protect the lives of our Troopers, other first responders and all members of the motoring public."

Scott's Law is named after Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Gillen, who was hit and killed in 2000 as he tried to help motorists involved in an accident on the Dan Ryan.

In 2020, the minimum fine for violating Scott's Law more than doubled, from $100 to $250 for a first offense and second or repeat offenses punishable with fines of $750 to $10,000. The change came after three Illinois State Police Troopers were killed in 2019 and 26 trooper cars were struck by drivers, according to WIFR.

In 2019, troopers Chris Lambert, Gerald Ellis and Brooke Jones-Story were killed in Scott's Law violations.

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