Scott Larson, age 61, appeared Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. January 29, 2019 in the Skokie Cook County courthouse for a bond hearing, charged in the crash that killed Illinois State Police Trooper Chris Lambert. Scott Larson was charged with reckless homicide.
Prosecutors say Larson was high when he hit the Illinois State Police Trooper when Chris Lambert was outside his police cruiser (with activated emergency lights) actively investigating the crash in a northbound lane of I-294 just north of Willow Road near Northbrook. A drug test revealed signs of cannabis in Larson’s system. Prosecutors also said Larson admitted to vaping.
Scott A. Larsen of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was driving a black Jeep, northbound on I-294 near that location. As Larsen approached the crash scene, he failed to stop or move over, and struck Trooper Lambert while he was outside of his patrol car actively investigating the crash. Trooper Lambert sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash, and was transported to Glenbrook Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
— Illinois State Police
At about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday January 12, 2019, Lambert, age 34, had been driving home from an Illinois State Police shift when he spotted a three-vehicle crash, and pulled over to assist the crash victims, according to Illinois State Police. While working at the crash scene, Lambert was struck by a passing vehicle driven by Scott Larson. An arrest warrant was issued for Larson on Thursday, January 24, 2019 on a charge of Reckless Homicide. Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies took Larson into custody, and on Monday, January 28, 2019, the Illinois State Police took custody of Larson as he was extradited back to Illinois.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of reckless homicide of a police officer and two counts of reckless homicide involving Scott’s Law. All three charges are Class 2 felonies. Bond was set at $250,000 for Larson, a certified public accountant and certified financial planner, who was also ordered not to drive as a condition of bond.
HISTORY OF DUI
Scott Larson was convicted of felony reckless driving and DUI in Wisconsin five years ago, after driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the road, he almost crashed into an ambulance that was returning to quarters after a transport to Froedtert Hospital. Paramedic Marc Rinzel managed to veer the ambulance out of the way of the wrong way driver’s vehicle, heading straight for the ambulance. Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputies then arrested Larson after he was reported driving southbound in the northbound lanes of US 45 with a flat tire about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2014.
Larson could have faced 10 years with the conviction, but he was released early.
See also …
FOX6NOW.COM | “I thought ‘this is it!’” Wrong-way driver nearly hits ambulance carrying three first responders
VIDEO in FOX6NOW article shows Scott Larson’s erratic driving caught on a highway camera in 2014, and Larson (edited) just before he urinates next to his disabled car, and police surrounding his disabled car.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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