Dolton Woman Charged After Striking State Police Cruiser On I-57: ISP

CHICAGO — A 24-year-old Dolton woman faces criminal charges after police said she was involved in a three-vehicle crash on I-57 that involved an Illinois State Police cruiser that police said the woman failed to yield for.

Lizabeth S. Williams was charged with a variety of charges including driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, and a violation of Scott’s Law, which is a failure to yield to emergency vehicles, the state police said on Tuesday.

The crash took place at 11:12 p.m. on Sunday on the northbound I-57 ramp from Halsted Street in Cook County. Police said that the state police vehicle was parked in the right lane of the ramp had initiated another traffic stop and had its emergency lights on.

Police said that a Hyundai SUV failed to yield and struck the back of the cruiser, which then forced the police vehicle to hit the back of the vehicle the trooper had pulled over. The state trooper and Williams were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

Williams was also charged with failure to reduce her speed to avoid an accident, police said.

In 2023, the Illinois State Police reported 21 Move Over Law-related crashes. In 2022, state police had 23 Move Over Law-related crashes where eight troopers sustained injuries.

Police officials are remaining the 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.

According to the law, a person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.