SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Lauren Frank’s entire life stood still on February 15, 2021.
“I got the phone call that every spouse of a first responder dreads, and all they said is ‘it's bad, but he's breathing,'" Frank said.
Her husband, Illinois State Trooper Brian Frank, was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle while assisting with an accident on I-55.
“In the past six months, we've encountered 35 doctors, four hospitals, three brain surgeries, two emergency room visits, 12 ambulance rides, and eight weeks of therapy,” Frank said.
Brian Frank is one of 17 Illinois State Troopers hit by a Scott’s Law violation.
That’s why Governor J.B. Pritzker signed new legislation Thursday morning to make emergency zones safer for first responders.
“It’s our responsibility to provide our heroes with the protection and resources they need to make their work safer,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to sign these three measures today, but I want to remind you: our strongest asset in protecting our law enforcement is not a law on the books, but our people on the ground. This is a wake-up call to every resident of Illinois. Your distracted driving could be someone else’s worst nightmare – and no text is worth that.”
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Starting Jan. 1, Illinois courts will have an enhanced menu of options for holding Scott’s Law violators accountable, including community service.
The state is also launching a ‘Move Over Early Warning’ task force, which will look at how to use modern technology to better help drivers safely navigate emergency zones.
Lauren Frank said the legislation is a step in the right direction.
“The lives of the men and women of the state police, they deserve more,” Frank said. “They deserve to be protected the way they protect us. They risked their lives for us every single day and the simplest thing that we can do is honor them and count their lives precious too, by slowing down and getting over.”
Another priority for Governor Pritzker is addressing the mental health of first responders.
A new law will create an online resource page with a list of mental health resources specifically geared toward police officers, firefighters, and EMS professionals.
“We want our first responders and their loved ones to know the signs, to know what they need. And most importantly, how to get help,” Pritzker said. “Emergency professionals experience higher rates of depression, PTSD, and suicide than the general population.”
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