SJ0040LRB097 14707 HEP 59683 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Interstate 64 is a major thoroughfare in the
3United States interstate system of roads which, in part,
4connects rural Southern Illinois with St. Louis, Missouri; and
 
5    WHEREAS, On November 23, 2007, the day after Thanksgiving,
6Jessica and Kelli Uhl were traveling home from visiting with
7their father and stepmother; while traveling on Interstate 64
8in heavy traffic, the girls were struck by an oncoming Illinois
9State Police vehicle that was traveling at an estimated speed
10of 126 miles per hour; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The trooper operating the vehicle at this high
12rate of speed was reportedly using his onboard computer and
13cellular phone when he crossed the median and struck the girls'
14car; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Both 18 year old Jessica and 13 year old Kelli
16were killed in the crash; a pregnant woman and her husband in
17another vehicle were also struck and sustained injuries; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The State trooper was convicted of 2 felony counts
19of reckless homicide in the deaths of Jessica and Kelli, and 2
20felony counts of aggravated reckless driving resulting from the
21injuries to the other couple involved in the accident; as a

 

 

SJ0040- 2 -LRB097 14707 HEP 59683 r

1result of the felony convictions he was forced to resign from
2his position as a State trooper and had his driver's license
3revoked for 24 months; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The girls' mother, Kim Schlau, has left her career
5to focus on promoting awareness of the dangers of distracted
6driving and now works with recruit classes and police
7organizations around the country; her goal is to offer a
8personal account of the repercussions and dangers of negligent
9pursuit driving in an effort to educate officers and first
10responders, and prevent these tragedies from happening to other
11families; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Since the accident, the Illinois State Police have
13limited the use of personal cellular telephones by on-duty
14troopers and have implemented a four-tier system specifying how
15fast troopers may travel while responding to emergency calls;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, A memorial has been placed on Highway 158 in honor
18of Jessica and Kelli under the fatal accident memorial marker
19program; the memorial contains Jessica and Kelli's names and
20admonishes drivers that "Reckless Driving Costs Lives";
21however, the sign is not visible from Interstate 64 and will be
22removed in 2 years unless legislation is passed to make the
23memorials permanent; and
 

 

 

SJ0040- 3 -LRB097 14707 HEP 59683 r

1    WHEREAS, It is fitting that this body join in honoring the
2memory of Jessica and Kelli Uhl and in promoting awareness of
3the dangers of reckless driving; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
6CONCURRING HEREIN, that the section of Interstate 64 between
7Exit 19A at Illinois Route 158 and Exit 23 at Illinois Route 4
8be renamed the Jessica and Kelli Uhl Memorial Highway; and be
9it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
11is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
12State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
13giving notice of the name of the Jessica and Kelli Uhl Memorial
14Highway; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
17Transportation and to the family of Jessica and Kelli Uhl.