Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Clay Carns was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on I-55 near Channahon, Illinois.
At 9:42 p.m., Trooper Carns was removing debris from the southbound highway north of Blodgett Road when a driver did not stop and struck him. He was transported to St. Joseph Hospital, where he died from his injuries an hour later.
The driver was charged with failure to slow down and move over when emergency vehicles were on the side of the road.
Trooper Carns had served with the Illinois State Police for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-58641F5B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Carns gave the Illinois State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Carns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Clay M. Carns is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Illinois State Police, 17 of 67 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clay M. Carns's cause is highlighted.
How Clay M. Carns Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with Class 4 felony
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clay M. Carns is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clay M. Carns was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
66 officers from Illinois State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
