Charles Henderson Killed in Springfield Car Accident With State Trooper

Wrongful Death - April 30, 2026

Charles Henderson Died in Springfield Pedestrian Accident With Police Vehicle on South Sixth Street by Linton Street

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (April 29, 2026) – A 45-year-old pedestrian identified as Charles Henderson has tragically died in a Springfield car accident with a state trooper on South Sixth Street.

Sangamon County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Charles Henderson was reportedly bent over in the roadway when he was struck by a state trooper traveling in the middle lane of the road.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. Charles Henderson was transported to a local area hospital to receive treatment.

Despite care at the hospital, he was later pronounced deceased. The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Liability for Springfield Police Accidents

Liability for any collision involving a police vehicle will typically hinge on whether or not a police officer was responding to an emergency call. Generally speaking, police departments will have a great deal of immunity for motor vehicle collisions if their officers are responding to an emergency with their lights and sirens on. If a police officer is not responding to an actual emergency with their lights and sirens, they must obey the rules of the road as with any other driver. Several factors could contribute to any pedestrian accident involving a police vehicle.

• Distractions: Police officers may have been distracted by their cellphones or onboard computer.
• Speed: Police officers may have been speeding, even if they were not in the midst of an emergency.
• Scanning: Police officers may fail to properly scan the road ahead of them for pedestrians.
• Turns: Police officers may fail to check their blind spots as they are making turns at an intersection.

Police officers in Illinois have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway, as required by Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1. When police officers fail to use caution to avoid hitting any pedestrian in the road, the law enforcement agency that they work for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers can be vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their workers who are operating within the course and scope of their job duties.

Demonstrating Liability for Accidents Involving Emergency Vehicles

Many people are seriously injured or killed every year in accidents involving emergency vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2024, 225 people died in crashes involving emergency vehicles. More than half of these deaths were occupants of non-emergency vehicles (56%). Deaths among pedestrians accounted for 24% of the total, while emergency vehicle drivers represented 9%, and emergency vehicle passengers accounted for about 8% of the deaths.” Demonstrating liability for any accident involving a police vehicle will require gathering an abundance of evidence.

• Police Footage: The footage from the police vehicle involved should be sought. Most police vehicles are equipped with traffic cameras.
• Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the accident should be gathered. The nature of a person’s injuries can help reveal how an accident took place.
• Police Records: Any records indicating the nature and purpose of a police officer’s trip should be reviewed. As stated earlier, it matters whether or not a police officer was responding to an emergency call.
• Crash Reconstruction: The physical evidence left behind after a collision can indicate how the accident unfolded. This includes skid marks, vehicle debris, and crush damage.

Accidents involving police vehicles are often highly complex. Unfortunately, police departments will virtually never accept responsibility if one of their police officers hits a pedestrian. They are more likely to blame the victim for what happened. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by an independent party. Even if a pedestrian were in the middle of a roadway, this does not remove a law enforcement agent’s duty of care to slow down and use caution. The family of any person who died in an accident involving a police officer is able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Springfield Police Vehicle Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Charles Henderson. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Many different questions remain unanswered at this time. What is the safety record of the state trooper involved in the crash? What was he looking at prior to the crash? What was the speed of the police vehicle?

Do you need more information about a Springfield pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.