JOLIET, IL – An Illinois State Police (ISP) trooper, who was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 80 westbound near LaGrange Road in Will County, has been released from the hospital following a three-vehicle crash on February 23, 2024, around 11:15 p.m.
The incident unfolded as the trooper’s squad car, parked with emergency lights on for a crash investigation, was reportedly rear-ended by a Toyota Camry driven by 22-year-old Kenny A. Cornejo of Chicago. The impact led to a subsequent collision when a third vehicle crashed into the Camry, causing it to hit the squad car once again.
The trooper was reportedly securely fastened by a seatbelt inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for injuries sustained in the crash but was later discharged. Cornejo faces charges including a violation of the Move Over Law, driving too fast for conditions, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
The crash marks the ninth Move Over Law-related crash in 2024, a concerning trend following 21 incidents in 2023 and 23 in 2022, some of which resulted in injuries to troopers.
