Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau took some time at the Jan. 6 village board meeting to praise the services of the late Clay Carns.
Carns, 35, was an Orland Park resident and Illinois state trooper who was struck and killed on Dec. 23 by a vehicle on Interstate 55 in the Channahon area.
The irony is that Dec. 23 has been designated as Scott Law Day in the state and drivers are required to slow their vehicles or move to another lane when emergency or construction vehicles are present.
Carns leaves behind his wife Meghan (nee Desmond) and children Gray and Ally.
“It is a tragic loss,” Pekau said. “He was the husband and father of two young children. He represented the best among us. He happened to be in the same fraternity as my son at the University of Illinois, though he was a few years older.
“While attending his wake and funeral, it really hit me. I was looking at the pictures of the husband and wife and two young children. Like the people that I served with in the military, Trooper Carns is one of the best among us. And it shows there is much more good than there is evil.”
The Carns family released a statement via the Illinois State Police.
“We could never begin to thank law enforcement nor the thousands from our community who have reached out to us to express their love and support,” the statement read.
“Our world has been shattered and we will never be the same. But we take comfort in knowing that he lived his life with such purpose. He loved his family and friends fiercely and he showed great pride in his work.”
John Fleet, 69, of Wilmington was arrested and charged with violating Scott’s Law, according to state police.
Services were held at Parkview Christian Church Jan. 2 and a funeral was held Jan. 3.
Carns served 11 years with the state police and was one of the 100 Club of Illinois 2024 Valor Award recipients.
