2 charged after Illinois State Police trooper hit by wrong-way driver near I-57 in Markham: ISP

MARKHAM, Ill. (WLS) -- Two men have been charged in a crash that injured an Illinois State Police trooper on I-57 in the south suburbs, police said.

Police said 44-year-old William Oiler and 57-year-old Herbert Needom of Harvey have both been charged with a count of felony theft.

Oiler was also charged with three counts of fleeing to elude, great bodily harm, damage to property over $300 and one count of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Needom was also charged with one count of burglary tools.

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The incident started last Thursday when Country Club Hills police attempted to make a traffic stop of a vehicle wanted in connection with a theft.

Police said the vehicle fled and went the wrong-way on a ramp onto I-57 when a trooper was entering I-57 southbound from 159th Street.

The squad car struck the fleeing vehicle head-on and the two suspect fled the scene on foot, police said.

Police said Oiler and Needom were both arrested a short time later.

The trooper was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.