Chicago man arrested for hitting patrol car on I-55: ISP

CHICAGO – A Chicago man was arrested for driving under the influence and hitting an Illinois State Police vehicle on I-55, authorities said.

The incident happened Tuesday at 11:39 p.m. on northbound I-55 at Joliet Road.

According to Illinois State Police, the patrol car was parked with its hazard lights on, blocking the left lane and providing traffic control after the crash when it was struck by a northbound Jeep.

The Jeep did not yield and crashed into the back of a police car. At the time of the collision, the policeman was not in the patrol car, he was not injured.

The driver of the Jeep, 53-year-old Charles Ruczynski of Chicago, was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was also cited for violations of the Traffic Act – failure to yield to a stationary ambulance, driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

State police have reported 20 law-breaking accidents this year, injuring nine troopers.

Anyone who violates the relocation law is subject to a fine of at least $250 and up to $10,000 for a first offense.