By Kevin Haas
Rockford Register Star, Ill.
BELVIDERE, Ill. — The quick reaction of a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy prevented he and other deputies from being struck by an oncoming car — and it was all captured on video from a police dashboard camera.
Deputies were investigating a DUI at 11:30 p.m. Saturday along Illinois 173 in Boone County when another driver went right through the area where they were standing. Deputy Chuck Schutz, who had been called to the scene to provide traffic control during the DUI investigation, pushed other deputies and the suspected drunken driver out of the way as the vehicle drove through.
“That car goes directly where he was standing,” Boone County Sheriff Dave Ernest said. “We got very fortunate. He did a great job.”
https://www.facebook.com/1614053132176992/videos/1979154749000160/
Ernest said deputies were able to pull over the car that drove past them and the driver was charged with DUI. Ernest did not have the name of the driver immediately available on Tuesday.
“That video is in slow motion, so it actually goes a lot quicker,” Ernest said.
The Sheriff’s Office shared the video on its Facebook page to remind everyone of Scott’s Law, which is commonly referred to as the “move over law.” The law is named for Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department. Gillen was struck and killed on Dec. 23, 2000, when an intoxicated driver sped through an accident scene. The law requires motorists to change lanes to provide additional space between their vehicles and emergency vehicles that have made a stop. The law was updated Jan. 1, 2017, to include all vehicles that display flashing emergency lights, including commercial trucks and cars.
“The county deputies are out on these country roads where it’s extremely dangerous,” Ernest said. “We want people to be aware to slow down when you see an officer out there on the roadway.”
©2018 Rockford Register Star, Ill.