MANSFIELD, La. -- A highway dedication ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday in south DeSoto Parish to dedicate a portion of a highway in memory of a state highway transportation employee who was killed early this year in a crash.
Department of Transportation and Development officials and state Rep. Larry Bagley will unveil signage honoring Chris Gray. He was killed on Jan. 25 on U.S. Highway 171 south of Mansfield.
Two other DOTD maintenance employees were injured in the crash as they worked to fill potholes. Their dump trucks were hit by the driver of a log truck who failed to yield in the work zone. The truck driver, Charles Barker, 42, of Florien, was later charged with negligent homicide.
During this year's Legislative session, House Bill 343 redesignated a portion of US 171, approximately 2.3 miles north of the Sabine Parish line near the crash site, as the “Chris Gray Memorial Highway.”
"Chris’ death was preventable, and stands as a tragic reminder of the potentially dangerous conditions that highway workers face on a daily basis while attempting to perform their jobs," DOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan said.
The ceremony is open to the public.