09/03/2026
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 3, 2026
Bloomington, IL – Driver Arrested After Striking Bloomington Firefighter at Woodrig Road Crash Scene
A driver who struck a Bloomington firefighter at the scene of a traffic crash this morning, then fled, has been located and arrested by the Bloomington Police Department (BPD), according to the Bloomington Fire Department (BFD). The firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene; he was not transported to a hospital.
Bloomington Fire Department crews responded shortly after 7:30 a.m. to a traffic accident at the intersection of Woodrig Road and Morrissey Drive. While firefighters were operating at the scene, a driver intentionally drove through the accident scene and struck one of the firefighters.
Fellow crew members treated the firefighter at the scene. The driver did not stop and fled the area before officers arrived. BPD investigators located and arrested the driver this morning.
No one involved in the original traffic accident required ambulance transport.
“This could have ended far worse than it did,” said Deputy Chief Jason Greer of the Bloomington Fire Department. “We remind every motorist to slow down, move over, and pay attention. Working in roadways is one of the most dangerous environments we face.”
The Danger Firefighters Face on Roadways
Incidents like this morning's are part of a well-documented, nationwide danger for emergency responders at roadway incidents:
● In 2024, 46 emergency responders — including firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, tow operators, and highway safety patrol workers — were struck and killed while working roadway incidents nationwide, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI).
● The National Fire Protection Association estimates that in 2023, roughly 19,225 fire department vehicles were involved in traffic collisions, resulting in about 1,450 firefighter injuries.
● An estimated 12,200 roadway responses occur every day across the United States, each one putting responders at risk of being struck by passing traffic.
● ERSI tracks an average of about 60 “struck-by-vehicle” incidents each year in which firefighters, EMS personnel, or their apparatus are struck and injured or damaged by other vehicles — in addition to those that are fatal.
Illinois Law: Penalties Drivers Can Face
Illinois law provides significant penalties for motorists who endanger or strike first responders working at a roadway scene, and for drivers who flee after striking someone. Potential charges in a case like this can include:
● Scott’s Law (the “Move Over Law,” 625 ILCS 5/11-907): Requires drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles and workers, whether stopped or moving. A first offense carries a fine of $250 to $10,000; a second offense, $750 to $10,000. A violation that causes property damage is a Class A misdemeanor, and one that causes injury or death can rise to a felony with mandatory driver’s license suspension.
● Aggravated battery against a firefighter (720 ILCS 5/12-3.05): Knowingly striking a firefighter performing official duties is a Class 2 felony, punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison and fines up to $25,000 — regardless of whether the firefighter is injured. If the firefighter suffers great bodily harm, the charge rises to a Class 1 felony, punishable by 4 to 15 years in prison.
● Leaving the scene of a crash (625 ILCS 5/11-401 and 11-402): Fleeing the scene of a crash involving personal injury is a Class 4 felony, punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison and fines up to $25,000. Failing to report such a crash to police within 30 minutes can elevate the charge to a Class 2 felony, punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison.
Exact charges will be determined by the Bloomington Police Department and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office as the investigation proceeds.
A Reminder to Motorists
The Bloomington Fire Department urges every driver to slow down, move over, and pay attention when approaching any crash scene, emergency vehicle, or first responder working along the road. A momentary lapse in attention can turn a routine call into a life-threatening one for the people who respond to help.
The Bloomington Fire Department thanks the Bloomington Police Department for its swift investigation and apprehension of the driver.
The Bloomington Fire Department is a full-time fire department serving a population of 78,000. The fire department consists of 120 members operating out of five stations. The fire department provides paramedic-level transport services and is the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 41 Hazardous Materials technician team.
CONTACTS:
Captain Frank C. Friend, Public Information Officer
Bloomington Fire Department
310 N. Lee | Bloomington, IL 61701
Office: (309)434-2627
Email: [email protected]
