IDOT Truck Struck in Coles County

For Immediate Release

Pesotum, IL – On February 22, 2022 at approximately 12:33 p.m. the Illinois State Police District 10 was dispatched to a three vehicle crash northbound on Interstate 57 at Milepost 188, near Matoon, in Coles County.

At the above time and location an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) truck was blocking the right lane for crews working in the area. A white 2011 Freightliner box truck was traveling northbound in the right lane of Interstate 57, in the same area. For an unknown reason, the box truck, driven by Evan T. Bebee, a 24-year-old male from Cut Off, LA struck the Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) that was attached to the IDOT truck. The collision caused the box truck to overturn onto its side on the roadway. A 2019 Chevrolet Traverse was also damaged after it drove through the crash debris. Bebee was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the IDOT truck, a 64-year-old male of Humboldt, IL refused medical attention and the driver of the Traverse, a 25-year-old male of Dowagiac, MI, also refused medical attention.

Bebee was issued citations for Failure to Yield to a Stationary Emergency Vehicle (Scott’s Law) and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.

Photo submitted by Illinois State Police.

The ISP would like to remind the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as “Scott’s Law”. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.

The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.