Local deputy recounts being hit as law enforcers urge drivers to follow Scott's Law - newschannel20.com
ILLINOIS (KHQA) — It started off as just another traffic stop for Adams County Deputy Javier Lofton.
"I pulled the car over on 172, just north of Columbus Road and I did a passenger side approach," Lofton said.
He eventually made his way back to the passenger side of his own vehicle to talk with dispatch, but didn't get back into his car.
A routine he said has become a habit for him over his years as a deputy.
"I gave his name and information to our dispatch center," Lofton said. "I got a return, and they said he was a valid driver and next thing you know I could hear the impact of the vehicle striking my squad car."
Another driver on the highway striking the back, driver side area of Lofton's car and wedging him between the car and the passenger door.
He was eventually thrown to the ground.
"I never lost consciousness or anything like that, so I sat up a little bit and felt my legs and I could still feel my extremities and then I got up," he said.
This accident happened in July of 2020, but Illinois State Police Public Information Officer Joshua Robinson said these types of accidents are happening more and more on the highways.
"It's always been a problem," Robinson said. "I think as we've brought more distractions into our lives, it has gotten worse because people take their eyes off the road in front of them."
This year, 15 ISP squad cars have been involved in accidents on the roadways, none of those has resulted in any fatalities.
In 2019, three ISP officers lost their lives for vehicles failing to move over on the highway.
"That shouldn't happen," Robinson said. "This is completely preventable, so I know we are going to do everything in our power to enforce this law and try and make the change where people start paying more attention and move over for everyone on the side of the road."
And it's something Lofton will never forget about.
"It definitely was an eye-opening experience," he said. "I don't wanna do that again, so please slow down and move over."
source: https://newschannel20.com/news/local/local-deputy-recounts-experience-as-law-enforcement-urges-drivers-to-follow-scotts-law
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