Unlicensed Cook County man crashes into trooper on I-57: ISP

CHICAGO – An Illinois state trooper was seriously injured on Monday after being hit by an unlicensed driver on Interstate 57, authorities said.

At approximately 10:22 a.m., the trooper’s marked patrol car was parked on the right shoulder of northbound I-57 near 108th Street with its emergency lights activated while responding to an earlier two-vehicle crash.

The trooper was standing on a nearby grassy embankment when a northbound black Hyundai failed to move, veered onto the shoulder and struck the trooper and two parked vehicles, Illinois State Police said.

The injured police officer was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The driver of the Hyundai, identified as Darío A. López-Arévalo, 22, of Robbins, was charged with aggravated violation of the Scott Act. He also received citations for driving without a valid license, operating a vehicle without insurance and numerous other vehicle code violations.

This incident marks the second Move Over Act-related accident involving an ISP police officer in the Chicago area in a week.

On October 29, another police officer’s patrol car was hit near Joliet by a driver later charged with driving under the influence.

Statewide in 2024, there were 21 crashes involving Scott’s Law violations, resulting in injuries to 10 state troopers, according to officials.