Illinois State Police still investigating crash that left trooper hospitalized

Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of a major crash that left an Illinois State Police trooper grievously injured on Interstate 55 in Will County.

The Feb. 15 crash involving Trooper Brian Frank still is under investigation, according to the Illinois State Police. Will County State’s Attorney Carole Cheney also said the case still is under review.

Frank’s squad car was struck after he responded to a crash on I-55, near Route 30, state police officials said. The emergency lights on Frank’s squad car were activated, police said.

Angel Casillas, 21, of Joliet was the driver who was ticketed in connection with the crash that left Frank hospitalized.

The traffic citations were dropped by prosecutors on March 5, 2021, in light of an ongoing investigation of the crash.

“The Illinois State Police are conducting a traffic crash reconstruction, which will not be complete for several months,” Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Hanson said in a motion. “Appropriate charges will be determined once all the evidence is complete.”

Casillas initially was cited for driving too fast for conditions or failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, following to closely and failure to yield to emergency vehicles, the latter of which is known as Scott’s Law.

Scott’s Law requires motorists approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles proceed “with due caution” and either change lanes or reduce speed.

The citations said the visibility was clear Feb. 15 and that the road conditions were “snow or slush.”

Frank suffered serious brain injuries when his squad vehicle was rear-ended, and there was an “immense amount of swelling to the head, which was responded to immediately with surgery upon arrival at hospital,” according to a GoFundMe established for him.

Last year, Brian Frank’s wife, Lauren Frank joined Gov. JB Pritzker for the signing of a package of legislation aimed at strengthening Scott’s Law and improving mental health resources for first responders.

In a statement, Pritzer called on motorists to provide first responders with the “protection and resources they need to make their work safer.”

“Your distracted driving could be someone else’s worst nightmare – and no text is worth that,” Pritzker said.

Brian Frank was awarded Officer of the Year by the Illinois State Police criminal patrol team last year.

Lauren Frank accepted the award on his behalf. She said at the meeting that her husband is the “most tangible example of humility I’ve ever met in my life, but that extends to all of you, as well.”