"This is a sad day for the Illinois State Police as we mourn the death of Trooper Clay M. Carns, who was killed while serving the people of Illinois and working to keep our roadways safe,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said in a statement.

"Any time we lose a trooper hurts, but today is Christmas Eve here on December 24, so it kind of hurts in a particular way," ISP Dir. Brendan Kelly said.

The idea behind the law is to minimize fatal accidents like the one that happened in Chicago this Christmas Eve. Illinois State Tropper Clay Carns was driving down Interstate 55 heading north. Carns saw debris along the highway's shoulder,