A Cook County man without a driver’s license crashes into a trooper on I-57: ISP

CHICAGO – That was an Illinois State Trooper seriously injured on Monday after he was struck by an unlicensed driver on Interstate 57, authorities said.

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

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

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

The driver of the Hyundai, identified as Dario A. Lopez-Arevalo, 22, of Robbins, was charged with aggravated violation of Scott’s Law. He also received citations for driving without a valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured vehicle and multiple other vehicle code violations.

This incident marks the second Move Over Law-related crash involving an ISP trooper in the Chicago area within a week.

On Oct. 29, another trooper’s patrol car was struck near Joliet by a driver who was later charged with driving under the influence.

In 2024, there have been 21 crashes statewide that violated Scott’s Law, injuring 10 state troopers, according to officials.