Expect delays, road closures for La Mesa police officer’s funeral procession Tuesday

A massive funeral procession for fallen La Mesa police Officer Lauren Craven will create traffic delays between Mission Valley and Rancho San Diego Tuesday morning.

The procession is set to include more than 700 vehicles and will depart Snapdragon Stadium around 7:30 a.m., La Mesa police said.

The line of cars — which will include law enforcement officials and family members only — will then proceed onto northbound Interstate 15. From there, it will drive onto eastbound state Route 52, then southbound state Route 125 and then eastbound state Route 94.

The procession will finally exit the highway at eastbound Campo Road before reaching its final destination of Skyline Church on Campo Road near Jamacha Boulevard, police said.

Access to SR-94 and SR-125 from Spring Street in La Mesa will be closed throughout the procession.

“Motorists in these areas should expect road closures and major traffic delays throughout the morning,” La Mesa police Capt. Katy Lynch said in a news release. “The utilization of alternate routes is strongly encouraged.”

The funeral is scheduled to begin at the church at 10 a.m. A livestream of the service can be viewed here.

Craven was killed in the line of duty last week when she was struck by a Toyota Camry while she was responding to a multi-vehicle traffic collision on Interstate 8. Another driver involved in the initial crash, 19-year-old De’Veonte Morris, was also killed.

The Toyota driver was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Officials invited members of the public to attend a candlelight vigil Monday evening at La Mesa Police Department headquarters located at 8085 University Ave. The vigil is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. and will include brief remarks, a moment of silence and a closing. Candles will be provided, officials said.