Crime & Safety
State Trooper's Death On I-55 Leads To Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Meghan Carns filed her lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse against Wilmington senior citizen John Flee, who still faces pending charges.
JOLIET, IL — The family of late Illinois State Police trooper Clay Carns has filed a wrongful death lawsuit at Will County's Courthouse against Wilmington senior citizen John Fleet, the motorist accused of running over Clays two days before Christmas.
According to the lawsuit filed by Meghan Carns, using the Clifford Law Offices of Chicago, at 9:42 p.m. Dec. 23, Fleet operated a vehicle on Interstate 55 in Channahon Township and Fleet was driving southbound. As for Trooper Carns, he was on duty for Illinois State Police when he stopped his police vehicle, activated his emergency lights, on the shoulder of southbound I-55 to remove debris from the area, the lawsuit noted.
As Carns attended to the debris in the area, Fleet caused his vehicle to collide into Carns, resulting in injuries and death, the plaintiff indicated.
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The lawsuit accuses Fleet of several counts of negligence including failure to exercise reasonable care in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance and control of his vehicle.
"As a direct and proximate result of one or more of the aforementioned acts and or omissions, plaintiff's descendent, Clay Carns, sustained injuries resulting in his death on Dec. 23, 2024," Meghan Carns' lawsuit declared.
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The lawsuit seeks a monetary judgment in excess of $50,000 against Fleet.
On Dec. 24, Joliet Patch that 69-year-old Wilmington man John Fleet has been charged with felony crimes in connection with the trooper's death. The Illinois State Police said Fleet was arrested for a violation of Scott’s Law, or the "move over" law, a class 4 felony, after the Monday night crash that killed Carns.
At 35 years old, Trooper Carns served 11 years as an officer with ISP. He was assigned to Troop 3. He was survived by his wife Meghan, children Gray and Ally, parents Patti and Danny Carns, and siblings Chad Carns, Erica (Carns) Raciack and Elyssa Carns.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Wilmington Driver, 69, Charged In IL State Trooper's Death On I-55
Man Charged In Trooper's Death Failed To Complete Driver Safety Course In June: Records
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