CHICAGO — A driver slammed into an Illinois State Police patrol car blocking an expressway ramp to prevent Mexican Independence Day revelers from entering downtown Chicago on Friday night, the agency said. A trooper inside the squad car was not injured.
Chicago city officials cut off access to the downtown area shortly before 8:30 p.m. after streets in the Loop began to fill with Mexican Independence Day partiers.
Assisting with the closures, a state trooper positioned his car across the southbound ramp from I-90 at Washington Street to keep vehicles from exiting and activated the vehicle’s emergency lights.
At about 10:40 p.m., the trooper moved his squad car to allow an emergency vehicle to pass, according to an ISP statement. As he did, a Jeep tried to exit onto the ramp and hit the patrol car.
The driver of the Jeep, Jose Lazo, 31, of Chicago, was cited for a “Scott’s Law” violation of improper passing of an emergency vehicle and having an expired license, according to ISP. He also escaped injury.
“Scott’s Law” requires drivers to slow down and move away from any vehicle stopped with its emergency or hazard lights activated.