STATE TROOPER INJURED IN I-94 CRASH ON SOUTH SIDE

An Illinois state trooper was hurt in a crash late Monday on Interstate 94 on the South Side.

At 11:43 p.m. troopers were sitting in their squad cars blocking the northbound lanes of I-94 near 43rd Street following a crash Chicago police were investigating, according to Illinois State Police. The troopers had their emergency lights activated and were waiting for an Illinois Department of Transportation salt truck after the crash was relocated from the expressway.

An SUV drove up and struck the rear of the squad car that was blocking the right lane, state police said. The SUV’s driver, 43-year-old Natisha Castle, continued on the expressway after the crash.

The trooper was treated and released from a hospital for injuries that weren’t thought to be life-threatening, state police said. No one else was hurt.

Castle, of Chicago, was eventually pulled over by another trooper unit, state police said. She was charged with driving under the influence and cited for improper lane usage, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving on a suspended or revoked license and operating a vehicle without insurance.

About 11:15 a.m. Feb. 12, an ISP trooper was struck by a vehicle on the left shoulder of northbound I-94 near Des Plaines, state police said at the time. The officer also suffered non-life-threatening injuries. “In less than one week, we have had two District Chicago Troopers struck and injured while handling on-duty incidents,” said ISP District Chicago Captain Margaret McGreal. “These crashes and subsequent injuries were completely preventable.”

About five hours before Monday’s I-94 crash, another trooper was hurt in a five-vehicle crash in Ogle County, state police said. The trooper’s squad car sustained “extensive damage,” but he wasn’t seriously injured.