Illinois State Police said they encourage people to show support for Clay Carns, a state trooper from Orland Park who was struck and killed in a roadside crash last week, by lining the route of his funeral procession Friday morning.
Funeral services for Carns, a husband and father of two young children, are planned for 10 a.m. at Parkview Christian Church, 11100 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, with the procession expected to begin at noon, according to state police.
The procession will begin at the church and make its way to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 W 111th St, Alsip via La Grange Road, Interstate 80 east, Interstate 57 north and Interstate 294 north.
State police said visitation was scheduled from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a first responder walk through at 6 p.m.
Orland Park police said drivers should expect heavy traffic on Orland Parkway and 183rd Street from Wolf Road to La Grange Road, with road closures at various times on Thursday and Friday. State police said other parts of the route will also close during the procession.
Carns, 35, was struck by a vehicle driven by 69-year-old John Fleet while he was cleaning debris along Interstate 55 the night of Dec. 23, state police said. The trooper was on duty when he activated his emergency lights, pulled over to the right shoulder north of Blodgett Road near Channahon. He exited his vehicle and was standing in the lane with the debris when Fleet, in a Chevrolet Silverado, struck him, according to police.
Carns was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, where he died at 10:45 p.m.
Fleet, of Wilmington, was not injured and remained on the scene, police said. He was later charged with a Class 4 felony under the Move Over Law, or Scott’s Law, which requires all drivers move over when approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated.
Carns’ family released a statement through the Illinois State Police saying Carns was a “treasured husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend” who became a hero when he was killed.
“Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same,” the statement said. “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.”
The family said people who want to help them can donate to the family via GoFundMe.com. Since the page was posted last week, the family has raised almost $270,000.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
