Governor DeSantis signs bill to designate stretch of I-295 in honor of fallen JSO officer

Fallen JSO Officer Lance Whitaker (Photo via JSO)

By Sarah Thompson

Jacksonville, FL — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Tuesday, to honor a fallen officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The bill, SB 64, will officially designate the stretch of I-295/East Beltway between Alta Drive and Pulaski Road as 'Officer Lance Christian Whitaker Highway.'

WOKV told you in May 2018, when Officer Whitaker died in a single-vehicle crash off 295 and Alta while responding to a call for service. JSO said at the time that weather was believed to be a factor in the crash.

Governor DeSantis signs bill to designate stretch of I-295 in honor of fallen JSO officer (Governor DeSantis' office)

Whitaker was 48-years-old and a 17-year veteran of JSO.

[ STORY: Sister of JSO officer killed in crash ‘loved his job, believed in his work’ ]

With this new law, the Florida Department of Transportation will install markers designating the 'Officer Lance Christian Whitaker Highway.'

With DeSantis' signature, this will now take effect July 1st.