(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Trooper Clay Carns was removing debris from I-55 near Channahon on Dec. 23 when he was struck by a driver.
John Fleet, 69, of Wilmington has been charged with a violation of Scott's Law as well as several vehicle code citations in connection to the deadly crash.
Trooper Carnes was a husband and father of two children.
His family shared a statement thanking the thousands of people who've expressed their love and support after this tragedy.
Read the statement below:
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.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” - Matthew 5:9
Services will all be held at Parkview Christian Church, 11100 Orland Parkway in Orland Park, Illinois. Visitation to take place Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 1 to 8 p.m., with a first responder walk through at 6 p.m. Funeral service will be Friday, January 3, 2025 at 10 a.m. Private Interment to follow.
The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trooper Clay Carns Memorial fund at the QR code found in the obituary.
Monday, Dec. 23 was "Move Over" Law Day, also known as Scott's Law Day.
Scott’s Law is named after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who died after being hit by a drunk driver while at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway on Dec. 23, 2000.
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