Final Procession Route Set For Fallen Trooper Clay Carns

ORLAND PARK, IL — The route for the funeral procession of fallen trooper Clay Carns is set to bring the Orland Park man to his final resting place Friday, Jan. 3.

Carns, 35, died two days before Christmas after being struck by a vehicle while clearing debris from a roadway near Channahon. Carns was a beloved husband to Meghan, and doting father to a son, 3, and daughter, 2.

"Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same," the family said. "But we take comfort in knowing that he lived his life with such purpose, he loved his family and friends fiercely, and he took great pride in his work."

Carns was hit by a truck driven by John Fleet, 69, of Wilmington. Fleet has been charged with a violation of Scott’s Law, or the "move over" law, a class 4 felony.

"The family of Trooper Clay Carns mourn the loss of their treasured husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend," the family said in a public statement. "We could never begin to thank law enforcement nor the thousands from our community who have reached out to us to express their love and support.

"To the public, Clay became a hero on December 23, 2024, when he was killed in the line of duty. To his family, he has always been a hero."

The Illinois State Police (ISP) encourages the public and first responder agencies to safely line the procession route and interstate overpasses for the procession.

The funeral is set for 10 a.m. on Jan. 3, at Parkview Christian Church, 11100 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park. The procession to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 W 111th St. in Alsip is anticipated to begin at noon.

Interment is private and not open to the public or media, Illinois State Police stressed.

The procession's route is as follows:

From Parkview Christian Church

• Turn left out of the parking lot onto Orland Parkway/183rd Street (eastbound)
• Right onto LaGrange Road/ US 45 (southbound)
• Right onto I-80 East Ramp (eastbound)
• Left onto I-57 North Ramp Exit 151B (northbound)
• Right onto I-294 North Ramp Exit 349 (northbound)
• Right onto Cicero Avenue Exit 12B (northbound)
• Left on 111th Street (westbound)
• Left at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (southbound)

Carns' complete obituary may be found online.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trooper Clay Carns Memorial fund. A QR code for the fund may be found on the Illinois State Police website. The GoFundMe established by a fellow trooper through the Got Your 6 Foundation has raised $270,000 to date.