Lane to be closed Saturday to honor policeman

In honor of Jeanerette Police Officer Juandre Gilliam, the St. Mary Parish fire departments will be blocking the westbound lane of U.S. 90 Saturday.
The highway will be blocked at each intersection from Patterson to the Sorrel exit starting at about 2 p.m. to allow the funeral procession to pass.
Fire departments are encouraging citizens and civic groups to join the remembrance by lining U.S. 90 at the intersections to pay respects to Officer Gilliam who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community.
The lane closure should last about an hour. Westbound traffic should use La. 182 during the closure.
State police said Gilliam died after trying to make a traffic stop late Tuesday in Jeanerette.
The vehicle he tried to stop, a Chevrolet Colorado, didn’t stop. During the pursuit, the Chevrolet and Gilliam’s Crown Victoria hit each other.
Gilliam was ejected from the Crown Vic police cruiser as it overturned.
The Colorado was later found in a field near the crash site
Investigators questioned the owner of the truck and later charged him with criminal mischief. Antre T. Joseph, 21, was cahrged with manslaughter and aggravated flight from an officer. A 16-year-old was also involved in the accident, police said.