Elderly Driver Hits, Injures Orland PD Community Service Officer

ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park Police Community Service Officer was injured, and an elderly driver cited, after the officer was struck while directing traffic Thursday night, police said Friday.

The officer was working outside Ashburn Baptist Church, 154th and Wolf Road, directing traffic following a gospel music concert Thursday around 9:30 p.m. The officer was attempting to stop southbound traffic on Wolf Road, when the lead vehicle failed to stop and struck him, "causing him to flip over the vehicle," police said Friday.

The officer was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for his injuries and later transported to Loyola Hospital for orthopedic surgery.

The 82-year-old driver was cited for having no valid driver’s license, disobeying a traffic control officer and failure to yield upon approaching an emergency vehicle (Scott’s Law).

The Village of Orland Park has created a get well card for the injured officer which is on display in the lobby of the Orland Park Police Department at 15100 S. Ravinia Ave. Community members are welcome to add their well wishes to the card through Friday, Nov. 24.