Serious and ongoing injuries sustained by ISP Trooper Brian Frank.
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced at a news conference on September 5 that Angel Casillas, 23, of Joliet, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by Circuit Court Judge Bertani-Tomczak for the vehicular crash resulting from a Scott’s Law violation that left Illinois State Police Trooper Brian Frank gravely injured. Casillas pled guilty to a Class 4 Felony on August 4, and victim witness testimony was heard that day.
“The lives of Trooper Frank, his devoted wife Lauren, and their family were shattered in that moment when Angel Casillas continued to drive in the left lane, at up to 87-mph and after failing to safely change lanes, crashed into Trooper Frank’s patrol car. Scott’s Law exists for a reason – to prevent exactly the type of tragedy that occurred here,” Glasgow said. “A prison sentence will not heal the egregious injuries that left Trooper Frank totally disabled, confined to 24-hour-a day nursing care without the ability to even speak or feed himself. However, it does serve a deterrent effect and send the necessary message that the lives of our dedicated law enforcement community are deserving of protection.
“A car can be a deadly weapon. Driving a vehicle is a privilege, and, along with this privilege, comes great responsibility. I will be proposing to our lawmakers a ‘Trooper Frank Amendment’ to further strengthen the criminal penalties for anyone convicted of violating Scott’s Law so that this responsibility is taken seriously by every driver on our roads. Moreover, our state needs to make sure the Scott’s Law fund receives sufficient appropriations so dedicated public servants, like Trooper Frank, do not suffer the significant out-of-pocket costs the Frank family has been forced to incur as a result of his debilitating injuries in the line of duty.”
On February 15, 2021, Trooper Frank was working with other ISP District 5 troopers on a single-vehicle crash on I-55, just north of Rt. 30. The crash was located about a half-mile north of U.S. 30 in the left lane against the center median wall of I-55. As the scene was being cleared, Trooper Frank positioned his fully-marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights activated just south of the crash to assist in diverting traffic from the left lane and help protect the towing company and emergency personnel on the scene. He also deployed three emergency flares behind his patrol vehicle to help divert and control traffic out of the left lane.
About 30 minutes after Trooper Frank had positioned his vehicle and the flares, a black 2010 Cadillac driven by Angel Casillas was traveling northbound in the left lane. The front of the Cadillac collided with the rear of the patrol car in which Trooper Frank was sitting, which rotated counter-clockwise and traveled uncontrolled to a final position upright across the center and right lanes of northbound I-55. The Cadillac continued northbound in the left lane, coming to an uncontrolled final rest upright near the center median wall. Trooper Frank was airlifted from the scene and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with serious injuries.
Although the posted speed limit on that area of the highway is 65-mph, Casillas was traveling at a speed of between 82- and 89-mph. Additionally, Trooper Frank’s in-car squad video camera showed his car had been stationary at the location for approximately 24 minutes before being struck by Casillas’ vehicle. During that time, more than 480 vehicles traveling northbound in the center and right lanes of northbound I-55 safely navigated around Trooper Frank’s fully marked ISP vehicle with emergency lights activated and emergency flares deployed.
Casillas will receive one day of credit for time served.