A truck driver was cited in a Chicago suburb after he allegedly ran his 18-wheel tractor trailer over the graves of at least three veterans at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Monday.
Police said the 43-year-old driver disobeyed “no truck” signs posted at the entrance to the national cemetery off Route 53 in Elwood and drove over three graves, narrowly missing the headstones, authorities said. He was stopped by cemetery staff who notified police.
The driver told officers he was traveling to a warehouse located at the nearby intermodal facility.
He was cited for disobeying a 5-ton weight limit sign, operating an over-length truck and spilling debris on the roadway.
“This is a travesty that demonstrates a complete lack of respect to our veterans when truckers ignore signs, illegally drive through a national veterans cemetery and run over this sacred burial ground,” Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes said in a statement. “The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery prides itself on providing solemn, respectful burials for our beloved veterans who gave their time, effort, and, in some cases, their lives for our country. Maintaining respect for our honored veterans is of the utmost importance and in return for their sacrifices, they - at the very least - deserve an undisturbed resting place.”
Officials said an investigation into the damage will continue once the ground thaws.
