ARCOLA, IL – An Illinois State Police (ISP) squad car was hit early Thursday morning on Interstate 57 in Douglas County while a trooper was conducting traffic control for a previous crash, authorities said.
According to Illinois State Police, the incident occurred around 5:50 a.m. on October 30, 2025, near milepost 203 northbound on I-57, just south of Arcola. The trooper had emergency lights activated and was directing drivers to exit at Illinois Route 133 when a Chevrolet Trailblazer failed to move over and struck the front passenger side of the parked squad car.
The trooper was outside the vehicle at the time and was not injured. The driver, identified as 68-year-old Donald E. Morecraft of Robinson, Illinois, was charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and a Scott’s Law/Move Over Law violation.
ISP officials say this marks the 12th Move Over Law-related crash in 2025, compared to 27 such crashes in 2024 and 21 in 2023. The department continues urging drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles with activated lights.
Under Illinois’s Scott’s Law, violators face fines up to $10,000, and if injury results, a driver’s license suspension of six months to two years.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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