Joliet man sentenced to prison for crash that injured Illinois State Police trooper

A Joliet man will serve 50% of a 15-month prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to violating Scott’s Law in a 2021 crash that seriously injured Illinois State Police trooper Brian Frank.

On Tuesday, Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak handed down the prison sentence on Angel Casillas, 23, after he pleaded guilty on Aug. 4 to violating Scott’s Law. The law requires motorists approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles – such as police squad vehicles – to proceed “with due caution” and either change lanes or reduce speed.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow said at a news conference that Bertani-Tomczak’s sentence was “the best we could have expected today.”

Glasgow said Scott’s Law could use tweaking to include aggravating factors that account for the great bodily harm and permanent disability that exists in the case involving Frank. Glasgow also recommended the state should pay for the $120,000 bill incurred by Frank’s wife, Lauren Frank, for accessibility improvements made to their home.

“I wish I could do it. I have forfeiture funds but I can’t really allocate it for that particular purpose. If I could I would. But we got to get Springfield to pay that bill and to pay the bills necessary for the proper care of Trooper Frank,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow said Lauren Frank should be a candidate to become a canonized saint for the level of care she has given to her husband since the fateful crash.

“It’s truly an amazing story,” Glasgow said.

In a statement read by Illinois State Police Capt. Dave Keltner, Lauren Frank, said she thanked the thoughtfulness that went into Bertani-Tomczak’s sentencing decision on Tuesday.

“There’s no fine or time served that will ever rectify what Brian and our family has and continue to endure. We are thankful that the incident was seen seriously and that justice was delivered accordingly,” according to Lauren Frank’s statement.

On Feb. 15, 2021, Frank was working with other troopers on a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 55, just north of Route 30, when his vehicle was struck by Casillas’ Cadillac, according to Glasgow’s office. Casillas was traveling between 82 to 89 mph in a 65 mph zone on the highway.

The emergency lights on Frank’s squad vehicle were activated and there were flares visible behind the vehicle as well. More than 480 other vehicles safely navigated around Frank’s squad vehicle before it was struck by Casillas’ vehicle, according to Glasgow’s office.

The crash left Frank hospitalized for a long time while he endured brain surgeries, pneumonia and other complications. Last May, he was moved into a home that was modified to meet his medical needs but he returned to the hospital a few days later with pneumonia.

The maximum sentence for Casillas was three years, which was recommended by Glasgow’s prosecutors. Cosmo Tedone, Casillas’ attorney, pushed for probation. Tedone said Casillas never had a speeding ticket. He also said that Casillas had been struggling with his brother’s suicide and other family issues at the time of the crash.

At Tuesday’s court hearing, Bertani-Tomczak said the evidence presented to her in the case demonstrated that Casillas could have safely avoided Frank’s squad vehicle. The judge said the evidence also shows that Casillas had been distracted for a significant period of time before the crash.

“I thought long and hard on the appropriate sentence in this case,” Bertani-Tomczak said.

Bertani-Tomczak told Casillas that his actions changed Frank’s life forever, along with the lives of his family, friends and co-workers. She said law enforcement have the right to perform their duties safely.

Bertani-Tomczak said a sentence of probation would deprecate the seriousness of Casillas’ offense and not serve the ends of justice. She sentenced Casillas to 15 months – or a year and three months – in prison. Casillas will receive day-for-day credit for that sentence, which means he’ll serve about half of that time.

There needs to be more commercials on TV and in the media about this law and how important it is to obey this [Scott’s Law] and to avoid these kinds of tragedies.

—  Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow

The courtroom was packed on Tuesday with Illinois State Police troopers, who were there in support of Frank. Many of the troopers who were unable to find a seat in the gallery were either standing or sitting in the jury box. Lauren Frank was also in attendance.

After Bertani-Tomczak delivered her decision, Tedone said Casillas never intended to crash into Frank’s vehicle and his client admitted to his guilt. He said he knew Bertani-Tomczak had a difficult decision to make.

“We pray that a miracle happens,” Tedone said of Frank’s recovery.

Glasgow said the case gives the public an opportunity to realize a vehicle can be a deadly weapon and motorists have an “absolute obligation” to maintain control of the vehicle for the safety of people on the roadway, especially first responders.

Glasgow said Casillas made a “tragic mistake.”

“He apologized for what he had done. Unfortunately that does not do much for Trooper Frank and his wife Lauren,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow said the state’s Scott’s Law Fund should be better funded for greater publicity of the law and education.

“There needs to be more commercials on TV and in the media about this law and how important it is to obey this law and to avoid these kinds of tragedies,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow said the Scott’s Law Fund should also have money for trooper’s injuries.

“That’s just common sense. They should not have any out of pocket expenses when they get injured or seriously incapacitated because of this,” Glasgow said.