Illinois: Joliet man charged with DUI after striking state trooper on I-55

An Illinois State Trooper was injured early Friday after after he pulled over to help another officer on I-55 near Bolingbrook and was struck by a drunk driver, police said. The incident happened at 12:45 a.m. on the northbound lanes of I-55, according to Illinois State police officials.

Daniel M. Gaeta, 24, of Joliet was charged with Aggravated Driving Under the Influence.

The incident began after a trooper was sitting in his parked squad car with emergency lights activated on the right shoulder of I-55. The officer had conducted a traffic stop and arrested someone. The person being arrested was sitting in the front passenger seat of the officer’s squad car. A second state police officer stopped his squad car, with emergency lights activated, behind the first officer and exited the car to assist the first officer. After speaking with the first officer, the second officer began walking back to his squad car.

As he was walking back, a 2004 Mercedes-Benz being driven by Gaeta struck the back of the squad car. The impact from the crash pushed the squad car forward, and it struck the officer as he walked back to his vehicle.

The squad car then struck the back of the first squad car. Both officers and the subject were transported to local hospitals. The first officer and the subject who was being arrested were both evaluated and released.

The officer who was struck sustained multiple fractures from the impact of the crash and was admitted to the hospital.

Gaeta was also transported to a local hospital. He was evaluated and released to state police custody.

Gaeta is currently being held in Will County jail for felony DUI.

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