Driver cited, accused of crashing into Illinois State Police squad vehicle in Shorewood, police say

A 24-year-old driver was issued a ticket for violating Scott’s Law after he was accused of crashing into an Illinois State Police squad vehicle on Interstate 55 in Shorewood.

At 7:46 a.m. on Monday, a trooper was investigating a crash on the right shoulder of the northbound lanes of Interstate 55 at Route 59, according to Illinois State Police.

The emergency lights on the trooper’s vehicle were activated, police said.

A silver 2018 Nissan Altima, traveling north on I-55, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the left rear side of the squad vehicle, police said.

A second trooper and a police dog were inside of the vehicle at the time of the crash, police said.

Tanner Poppenhager, 24, of Beardstown, was issued a citation for a violation of Scott’s Law, police said.

Both troopers were taken to Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for injuries considered not life threatening, according to Troy Fire Protection District Chief Paul Hertzmann. The police dog appeared to be fine, he said.

Scott’s Law, also known as the Move Over 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.

The law is named after Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Gillen, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway in 2000.

[Illinois State Police] 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,” police said.