A Lake County sheriff’s deputy was nearly hit by a car as it struck his squad car while he was on a traffic stop on Route 12 in Deer Park Sunday evening.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop around 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Route 12 near Long Grove Road in Deer Park.
The deputy stopped the vehicle because the vehicle’s registration was suspended, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
A second deputy was called to assist with the stop.
Both deputies had all the emergency lights on their squad cars activated, Covelli said.
The backup deputy was exiting his squad car when a southbound Hyundai sedan approached the area.
The Hyundai, driven by an 80-year-old Park Ridge man, struck the deputy’s door, Covelli said, adding that the Hyundai also nearly struck the deputy.
“Fortunately, neither the driver, nor the deputy, were injured in the crash,” Covelli said.
The driver of the Hyundai was cited for violating the state’s move-over law, known as “Scott’s Law.”
Scott’s Law was named after Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was struck and killed while he was on the scene of a traffic crash.
Scott’s Law requires all drivers to change lanes, or greatly reduce the vehicle’s speed if they are unable to change lanes, when approaching an emergency vehicle or utility vehicle with flashing lights activated.