‘Our world has been shattered’, says family of fallen Illinois State Police trooper

(25News Now) – The family of fallen Illinois State Police Trooper Clay Carns has released a statement, saying he was a peacemaker and has always been a hero.

The public apparently agrees with that assessment, donating almost $200,000 to a GoFundMe page established in his honor.

Carns, who was 35, was killed on the night of Dec. 23. A passing pickup truck hit Carns after he left his squad car to pick up debris from the roadway on Interstate 55 near Channahon, according to investigators.

The Carns family said, “Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same.”

Here is the entire statement from the family released Saturday afternoon:

“The Family of Trooper Clay Carns mourn the loss of their treasured husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. 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.

To the public, Clay became a hero on December 23, 2024, when he was killed in the line of duty. To his family, he has always been a hero.

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 took great pride in his work.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” -Matthew 5:9

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged 69-year-old John Fleet of Wilmington with violating Scott’s Law for not moving over to avoid hitting Carns.

Ironically, the crash happened on Scott’s Law Day, named for the Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Gillen who was struck and killed on an interstate on Dec. 23, 2000.

Meantime, the Got Your 6 Foundation has set up a GoFundMe page to support the Carns family. By Saturday afternoon, almost $200,000 had been raised with about 2,000 donations.

To see the GoFundMe page, click here.

The funeral for Trooper Carns will be Friday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, with visitation at the church on Thursday, Jan. 2 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a first responder walk through at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

To see the obituary, click here.

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