An Illinois State Police trooper was struck and killed by a vehicle near Joliet Monday evening.
Trooper Clay M. Carns, 35, was removing debris from a lane on southbound I-55 when he was hit by a passing pickup truck around 9:42 p.m., according to a news release from the agency.
The crash was north of Blodgett Road, near Channahon.
Carns died from injuries around 10:45 p.m. after being taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet.
John Fleet, 69, of Wilmington, was arrested and faces a Class 4 felony charge.
At the time of the crash, Carns had observed debris on the interstate, so he turned on his emergency lights and pulled over to the right shoulder. Carns was standing in the lane to grab the debris when he was struck.
Fleet was not injured and waited for additional authorities to arrive, according to the release.
The death marks the second fatal crash this year involving a state police trooper this year. A trooper was struck and killed in Champaign County in late October.
Carns was assigned to Troop 3 and had served as an officer with ISP for 11 years. He is survived by his wife Meghan, children Gray and Ally, parents Patti and Danny Carns, and siblings Chad Carns, Erica (Carns) Raciack, and Elyssa Carns.
ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly announced the death Tuesday morning.
“Please keep Trooper Carns, his family, loved ones, and his ISP family in your thoughts, prayers, and hearts during this most difficult time,” he stated.
The crash is under investigation.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois State Trooper struck and killed by vehicle outside of Chicago