Crime & Safety
Lake County, IN Crash: Illinois Man Accused of Hitting Police SUV
Lake County, IN – An Illinois driver was arrested after allegedly crashing into a parked Indiana State Police patrol SUV along Interstate 80 late Thursday night, injuring a trooper and a police intern
By Cameron Hayes · 2026-10-30T13:00:50.112Z
Lake County, IN – An Illinois driver was arrested after allegedly crashing into a parked Indiana State Police patrol SUV along Interstate 80 late Thursday night, injuring a trooper and a police intern.
According to Indiana State Police, the collision happened around 11:15 p.m. Thursday, October 29, near the 1.4 mile marker on eastbound I 80 in Lake County, Indiana, just east of the Illinois state line near Indianapolis Boulevard.
Trooper Brayden Schrock was conducting traffic enforcement while parked on the interstate's inside shoulder when a black Infiniti SUV struck his stationary, fully marked patrol vehicle from behind at a high rate of speed.
Responding troopers found the Infiniti disabled and blocking multiple interstate lanes. The patrol SUV sustained extensive rear end and driver's side damage.
Police identified the Infiniti driver as Christopher T. Idom, 34, of Blue Island, Illinois, a suburb south of Chicago.
Investigators reported observing signs of possible impairment, including bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of alcohol.
Authorities said Idom refused field sobriety testing, a portable breath test and a chemical test after being advised of Indiana's Implied Consent Law.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for a blood draw, which was executed at a local hospital.
Idom was transported to the Lake County Jail on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated endangering, operating while intoxicated first offense and operating a vehicle with suspended registration.
He was also cited for unsafe lane movement and operating without financial responsibility.
Both Trooper Schrock and an Indiana State Police intern riding with him were transported for treatment of minor injuries. Both were treated and released.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers conducting roadside traffic enforcement along busy interstate corridors.
All charges remain allegations, and Idom is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.