Lake County sheriff’s deputy escapes injury as passing car strikes squad

A Lake County sheriff’s deputy escaped injury Sunday night when a passing car struck the deputy’s stopped patrol vehicle, and nearly the deputy, in Deer Park, authorities said.

According to the sheriff’s office, a deputy was making a traffic stop about 8:30 p.m. on Route 12 near Long Grove Road when a second deputy arrived to assist. Both patrol vehicles had all their emergency lights activated at the time, officials said.

As the second deputy got out of his squad car, a Hyundai sedan headed south, driven by an 80-year-old Park Ridge man, struck the door of the patrol vehicle and nearly the deputy, the sheriff’s office said.

Neither the driver nor the deputy were injured, officials said. The driver of the Hyundai was cited for violating Scott’s Law, which requires drivers to change lanes and, if that’s not possible, reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle or utility vehicle with flashing lights activated.