'He's A Hero,' ISP Director Says Of Trooper Killed In Crash

NORTHBROOK, IL — An Illinois State Trooper who was struck by a vehicle while investigating a crash on I-294 has died, police confirmed. State police said the trooper was hit on northbound I-294 near Willow Road Saturday at the scene of an earlier crash.

ISP Director Leo P. Schmitz identified the trooper as Christopher Lambert, 34, a five-year veteran of Illinois State Police District 15 in Downers Grove, where he was assigned to the Criminal Patrol Team.

Lambert was on his way home from work in his squad car at around 4:43 p.m. when he saw a three-car crash and pulled over onto the left shoulder. He had gotten out of his vehicle to investigate when he was struck, Schmitz said.

An off-duty nurse stopped and gave Lambert CPR following the crash, according to police. Lambert was taken to Glenbrook Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:24 p.m.

Lambert, a U.S. Army veteran, has a wife and a 1-year-old daughter, according to police.

Schmitz said it was characteristic of Lambert to stop and help. "He's going to stop and do everything he can to protect the people ... That's what the troopers do. That's what he did ... He's a hero, and now we're going to take care of him, his family and our troopers."

Schmitz said the crash is under investigation, adding that weather may have played a role in the tragedy. "As we have it right now, it looks like a traffic accident," he said. The driver who struck Lambert stopped and remained on scene, according to police.

"We lost one of our own," Schmitz said. "One of our best. Everybody loved him."

Schmitz said state police planned to escort Lambert's body with full honors to the medical examiner's office late Saturday.

Due to the snow on Saturday, state police had previously encouraged motorists to stay off the roads if possible, using the hashtag #StayHomeSaturday. Just hours before the crash that killed Lambert, state police listed the total number of crashes and assists troopers had responded to between Friday afternoon and 1 p.m. Saturday. The tally included 278 crashes and one fatality.

"Today 01/12/19, the Illinois State Police thus far has handled approximately: 1,160 Total Incidents (Including 465 Calls for Service and 695 Field Initiated Incidents)," police said. "We appreciate all of you who heeded the warnings and are partaking in #StayHomeSaturday. If you do have to drive, please slow down, buckle up, avoid distractions, and give snowplows room to work."

The tragedy is the latest roadway death for the Illinois State Police. Trooper Ryan Albin, 37, died in June 2017 after he was involved in a crash with a commercial vehicle on I-74 in downstate Illinois.

In March 2013, Trooper James Sauter, 28, was also killed on I-294 near Willow Road when his vehicle was hit by a semi-trailer. A Wisconsin truck driver who reportedly fell asleep at the wheel was sentenced to two years in prison in Sauter's death after pleading guilty to operating a commercial vehicle while impaired or fatigued, filing a false work log to conceal hours worked and driving beyond 14-hour period allowed by Illinois law.

Photo of Christopher Lambert/Illinois State Police