2 Charged After Wrong-Way Crash Injures State Trooper: ISP

MARKHAM — Two men have been charged following a wrong-way crash on I-57 that injured an Illinois State trooper Thursday, state police said Monday.

The Harvey men—identified as William Oiler, 44, and Herbert Needom, 57—also face charges related to a theft that preceded the crash, state police said.

On May 22, Country Club Hills police attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two men who were wanted for theft. The vehicle fled the officer and drove the wrong-way onto I-57. At approximately 1:05 p.m., an ISP trooper was entering I-57 southbound from 159th Street when their squad car was struck head-on by the fleeing vehicle which had continued in the wrong direction. After the crash, the two men fled the scene on foot.

A short time later, Markham police located and arrested the two suspects and identified them as Oiler and Needom. Oiler and Needom both sustained injuries from the crash and were transported to an area hospital with injuries. The ISP trooper was also transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

ISP special agents assumed the investigation and took Oiler and Needom into custody following their release from the hospital.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office on May 23 approved charges for both. Each man was charged with one count of felony theft with previous conviction. Oiler was also charged with three counts of felony fleeing to elude, fleeing to elude, felony great bodily harm, felony damage to property over $300, and one count of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Needom was also charged with one count of burglary tools, a felony.

Both men are being held pending a detention hearing.