Highway named after fallen officer.

[retdetsgt]

The backstory on this is the officer was killed by a 56 year old mentally ill woman on a traffic stop. She ran a red light and he pulled her over on his police M/C. As he approached the vehicle, she shot and killed him. She was found too mentally ill to stand trial and is Oregon State Mental Hospital. Sad thing is, she may be out in three years.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Almost eight months have passed since Eugene police officer Chris Kilcullen was killed during a traffic stop. Saturday, the community honored him with a highway name dedication.

Senate Bill 987 renames the stretch of highway from Interstate 105 starting at the Washington-Jefferson Street bridge in Eugene, to Highway 126, to Main Street in Springfield the 'Officer Chris Kilcullen Memorial Highway.'

"There's no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends, and everybody in the community was Chris's friend," said Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith.

The ceremony was held at Kilcullen's alma mater, Willamette High School.

"Today is ... another way for us to honor Chris and pay our respects to what a great man he was," said Kilcullen's friend Tim Haywood.

"I can't believe or begin to tell you how proud I was when Chris decided to become a police officer. I knew he'd be a good one," said Kilcullen's father John Kilcullen.

The section of highway is particularly significant because it's an area Kilcullen often patrolled, and he passed it every day on the way to work. Four signs, two in each direction, will be put up on the highways.

"He won't be forgotten and every time we drive down that stretch between Eugene and Springfield, Chris will be there," said John Kilcullen.

A permanent memorial for Officer Chris Kilcullen | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon