Wilmington Driver, 69, Charged In IL State Trooper's Death On I-55

WILMINGTON — On the 24th anniversary of the incident that led to the establishment of Scott's Law, a 35-year-old Illinois State Trooper lost his life picking up debris in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55. Now, a 69-year-old Wilmington man named 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 Trooper Clay M. Carns.

According to police, at around 9:42 p.m., Trooper Carns saw debris in a lane on southbound I-55 just north of Blodgett Road near Channahon, and he turned on his emergency lights, pulling over to the right shoulder.

Trooper Carns got out of his vehicle and was standing in the lane grabbing the debris when a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Fleet struck him, state police said.

Trooper Carns was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, where he died of his injuries an hour later. Fleet was not injured and remained on scene.

At 35, Trooper Carns served 11 years as an officer with ISP. He was assigned to Troop 3. He is survived by his wife Meghan, children Gray and Ally, parents Patti and Danny Carns, and siblings Chad Carns, Erica (Carns) Raciack and Elyssa Carns.

On Christmas Eve, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a Scott’s Law charge against Fleet. ISP also issued Fleet multiple Illinois Vehicle Code citations. These are not detainable offenses, and Fleet was released, Illinois State Police said.

Already in 2024, ISP has suffered 26 Move Over Law-related crashes, with 12 troopers injured and one death. Trooper Corey S. Thompsen, 28, was killed in a crash near Champaign in October.

In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured and suffered 25 crashes in 2022 leaving 13 troopers injured. The Move Over Law, also known as "Scott’s Law" in Illinois, requires all drivers to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated.

The law is named after Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott P. Gillen, who was 37 years old when he was struck and killed while responding to a crash on the Bishop Ford on Dec. 23, 2000.

A person who violates the Move Over Law faces a fine of no less than $250 and no 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.

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