Illinois

'Our world has been shattered': Family of fallen Illinois trooper speaks out after fatal I-55 crash

Published

12 months ago

December 28, 2024

'Our world has been shattered': Family of fallen Illinois trooper speaks out after fatal I-55 crash

Illinois state trooper killed by passing vehicle just before Christmas

An Illinois State Trooper was killed Monday night in Will County when he was struck by a car while removing debris from an expressway.

WILL COUNTY, Ill. – The family of Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns, who was struck and killed on I-55 near Channahon just before Christmas, has expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received during this tragic time.

Carns died Monday night after being hit by a vehicle while removing debris from the expressway.

On Saturday, his family issued the following statement:

Pictured is Trooper Carns with his two children, Ally and Gray, and wife Meghan. (Illinois State Police)

“The Family of Trooper Clay Carns mourn the loss of their treasured husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We could never begin to thank law enforcement nor the thousands from our community who have reached out to us to express their love and support.

“To the public, Clay became a hero on December 23, 2024, when he was killed in the line of duty. To his family, he has always been a hero.

“Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same. But we take comfort in knowing that he lived his life with such purpose, he loved his family and friends fiercely, and he took great pride in his work.”

What happened

The crash occurred on Monday, Dec. 23 – the very same day that was designated as “Scott’s Law Day” in Illinois, which reminds driver’s to move over and slow down when approaching emergency vehicles.

At around 10 p.m., Carns was clearing debris from the southbound lanes of I-55 near Channahon when he was struck by a vehicle.

He was transported to Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he later died.

The driver, identified as 69-year-old John Fleet of Wilmington, was arrested and charged with a felony violation of Scott’s Law.

ISP arrested John Fleet, 69, of Wilmington, after the crash.

Trooper Carns served with the Illinois State Police for 11 years. He was a married father of two young children.

Funeral services announced

Services for Trooper Carns will be held at Parkview Christian Church, located at 11100 Orland Parkway in Orland Park.

Visitation: Thursday, Jan. 2, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a first responder walkthrough at 6 p.m.
Funeral Service: Friday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m., followed by a private interment.

How to support the family

A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $195,000 as of Saturday for Trooper Carns’ family.

The fund has a goal of raising $250,000 and has received 2,000 donations so far.

To learn more about the campaign, click here.

Illinois

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

Published

8 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.

IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.

There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.

As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.

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Illinois

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

Published

20 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

December 16, 2025 / 10:36 AM CST
/ CBS Chicago

A woman was found dead near a shopping center in Schaumburg, Illinois early Tuesday, and a man was taken into police custody.

Around 5:25 a.m., Schaumburg police were called to the 100 block of South Roselle Road. They found a woman dead at the scene.

Police said a man was taken into custody at the scene.

The investigation so far indicates that the incident was domestic, and the man and woman knew each other.

Police said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the public. But there was a large police presence at the scene, and alternate routes were advised.

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Illinois

Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide

PRINCETON, Ill. (WMTV) – The Illinois State Patrol is investigating a death after officials found a suspect’s vehicle wanted in connection to a Wisconsin homicide, Illinois State Police reported.

Just before 10 p.m. on December 10, ISP troopers and several other agencies attempted to pull a vehicle over in Princeton, Illinois, that was wanted in a Rock County homicide.

Officials did not specify which Rock Co. case this incident is connected to.

Princeton is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Rock County, Wisconsin.

After the driver did not pull over, police chased the vehicle into the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on I-80 westbound.

When officers went up to the vehicle, authorities stated the driver was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities did not identify the driver.

ISP is working with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office in this investigation.

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