IL State Trooper Struck And Killed On I-55

Im sure he did slow down as he was trying to merge into another lane.. Which means he was aware of the officer and trying to get over...

 

Okay, here I come playing devil's advocate.

I spent a great part of my life (35 years) in the area of fire/medical/dive/para rescue both in the military (combat) and as a civilian.

Everyone is talking about the truck driver,... the inconsiderate hammer lane that failed to allow the driver to move over,... slowing down,... enacting more stupid legislation,...

What I haven't heard is one word about common sense self-preservation... something our Illinois Trooper failed to apply by stepping out into traffic. Why was he on that side of the vehicle in the first place? I'm sorry but stupid is stupid no matter how you try to move the blame or point fingers.

A good portion of my life has been spent trying to patch up mistakes people make or trying to save innocent people who became undeserving recipients of injuries as a result of the careless or thoughtless actions of others.

Let's stop pointing fingers at things that could have, would have, or should have been done... the simple fact is a Trooper stepped back into traffic.

That's the bottom line... was his vehicle positioned properly to shield him from being struck?... I'll bet not.

The reason I'm still here after 62 years is because I don't step into traffic,... I don't walk in front of any motor vehicle that is 'in gear and running'... it's called survival/self-preservation. Look both ways before crossing the street. Get my drift?

I'm sorry, I know I've offended a lot of you but this is b/s... a Trooper stepped back into traffic. God Rest His Soul. It's sad but it's his fault for his careless action.

END OF STORY.

'Bigfoot'
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Think we can agree that it was the troopers fault for being in traffic still its not well to speak ill of the dead. But the truck driver is the one thats going to be jumping in and out of court and possibly lose his job for this? troopers problems are over drivers are just starting

 

I would be willing to bet my life that, if I ever get pulled over by a Trooper in Illinois and he/she (don't know if there's a gender bias with Trooper fitness requirements), recognizes my name and associates it with my above post, I may have to practice some serious self-preservation from the 'blue crew'.

Just sayin'

...and we have a couple of terminals out there.

I do apologize for 'speaking ill of the dead'... no way to get my message across any other way though.

'Bigfoot'
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The trooper may have been standing on the fog line because the idiot driver barely got off the road when stopped and didn't respond to requests to move over further. Or perhaps the vehicle was disabled. Makes no difference. traffic needs to get out of the slow lane if there is visible clearance to see a stopped vehicle ahead on the shoulder. Period.

15 feet clearance is much safer than 15 inches. What we do know, is if the truck was able to move over, he would have and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Why was the cop on the driver side instead of on the passenger side through the window, we don't know. But to be certain, we'll see fewer cops on the driver side and more on the passenger side and this will be a good thing. I am surprised this isn't standard protocol when possible.

 

Unfortunately we will never know why the Officer was on the traffic side, or why he stepped back. Hopefully the dash camera can exhonorate the driver, so at least another family wont be destroyed.

I make it a point if I cant move over to hit the air horn a couple times to alert the officer, or vehicle occupants that Im coming by.

 

Ok everyone needs to put something in perspective here. We need to show compassion because a man's life is gone, and he has left behind a wife and two young children. We don't know why he stepped back, but he did. This driver and the deceased persons family needs prayers, because each one has to have strength, comforting, peace, and understanding of what happened. This driver has to live with the fact that he killed someone, and that is not something that is easy to be on your shoulders. Some people can get over it in time, but others can't so maybe we should pray that God gives him peace with what happened. I am sure this driver is blaming himself for what happened, but it was an accident that caused a fatality. This can and will ruin a truck drivers job, and most certainly will keep him from getting another job.

 

Im sorry for the loss of life, we all ##### about the bears always picking on us, but this was a human life.
Yes many if's /and's . Sadly we may never know the answer.
Im surprise Ill. doesnt instruct thier officers to go to the passenger window. Many other states do this, even when the car is parked way off the shoulder.

 

He was a solo bike officer. Traditionally makes traffic stops. Don't know if they have cams on the bikes in IL.
RIP.

 

A bike can't hardly provide any protection from oncoming traffic. A truck would, in fact, turn a motorcycle or auto into a projectile at highway speeds.
I hope Illinois and every state start instructing officers to approach from the passenger side keeping the driver (and occupants) in full view at all times when doing so.
I know it's a safety consideration using the vehicle's support beams as a partial shield and the sharp angle of approach as a protective means of safety when approaching a driver but given the fact that the majority of the population is right handed, the right side of the vehicle actually makes it much harder for an armed felon to fire upon an officer. The best approach remains on the right side for that reason alone.
The traffic is always on the driver's side too so common sense seems to dictate avoiding placing yourself at risk of injury.

Just some observations from a military point of view.

'Bigfoot'
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