Illinois State Police trooper killed on I-55 laid to rest after funeral procession

WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- Family, friends, and fellow officers gathered Friday to lay fallen Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns to rest.

Carns, a 35-year-old husband and father of two, was hit and killed while on duty by a driver on Interstate 55 near Channahon last week, just days before Christmas, while clearing debris from the road.

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Officers and troopers from across the country came to honor the life of Carns. While the funeral was closed off to the public, the love and respect Carns merited in his 11 years as an Illinois State Trooper could be seen.

"The men and women who do this job, they do it because they love it. They do it because they are selfless. They do it because they are brave, and no one is going to stop them," said ISP Director Brendan Kelly.

Kelly said Carns was killed 23 years after the enactment of the state's Scott's Law, which requires drivers to move over if traffic allows or slow down when approaching emergency or construction vehicles stopped on the roadway.

"They are still at risk, and that's why we have to continue to be relentless and do everything we can to stop these things from happening," Kelly said.

RELATED: Illinois state trooper hit, killed while removing debris on I-55; driver charged, ISP says

As Chicago police flew over the procession to show their respect and support, the parking lot at Parkview Christian Church was packed with a sea of squad cars of officers and troopers from across the country.

"Every one of his fellow officers talks about how great of a teammate he was, what a person of integrity he was. How trustworthy he was," Kelly said.

A private visitation was held Thursday at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, where many reflected on Carns' dedication to service.

"The fact that you see so many people so sad and so upset and hurting at him no longer being with us is just indication of what kind of human being he was," Kelly said. "Every one of his fellow officers talks about how great of a teammate he was, what a person of integrity he was, how trustworthy he was."

The funeral began at 10:00 a.m. at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park. The funeral and burial was private and not open to the public.

And as a grieving and heartbroken family prepares to lay Carns to rest, Kelly is urging drivers to pay attention.

"Show some respect to the men and women who do this job on a daily basis," Kelly said.

Carns is survived by his wife, two children, siblings and his parents. Illinois State Police say to honor Carn's life means upholding what he stood for integrity, service, and pride.

Carns' family did request that no elected official attend the funeral. Out of respect, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker did not attend and has ordered flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Carns.

After Friday's private funeral service at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, there was a procession to take the fallen trooper to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. The public was allowed to line up on the procession route and on interstate overpasses to pay their respects.

Illinois State Police has released the following route for the procession:
-Turn left out of the parking lot onto Orland Parkway/183rd Street (eastbound)
-Right onto LaGrange Road/ US 45 (southbound)
-Right onto I-80 East Ramp (eastbound)
-Left onto I-57 North Ramp Exit 151B (northbound)
-Right onto I-294 North Ramp Exit 349 (northbound)
-Right onto Cicero Avenue Exit 12B (northbound)
-Left on 111th Street (westbound)
-Left at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (southbound).