Pennsylvania Act 2016-98 — LIEUTENANT ERIC ESLARY MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND JAMES PAUL TAKITCH HONORARY HIGHWAY - DESIGNATION

Act text

An Act

Designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 1017 over Mill Creek in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, as the Lieutenant Eric Eslary Memorial Bridge; and designating a portion of State Route 981 in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, as the James Paul Takitch Honorary Highway.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Lieutenant Eric Eslary Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Lieutenant Eric Eslary was a native of Ligonier, Westmoreland County, and a 17-year veteran of the Ligonier Township Police Department.

(2) On May 5, 2015, Lieutenant Eslary was patrolling Route 30 in Ligonier Township with his K-9 partner, Blek, when his marked SUV was hit head on by a van operated by a driver under the influence and driving the road the wrong way. Lieutenant Eslary sustained ultimately fatal injuries and his K9 partner required veterinarian care. At the scene, Blek refused to leave his partner's side.

(3) Lieutenant Eslary was a well-respected and committed law enforcement officer who established his department's K-9 unit in 2000 and provided K-9 training assistance to other departments across this Commonwealth. He was an instrumental part of the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force through which he provided drug abuse resistance education to local school children and civic organizations.

(4) In addition to his duties with the police department, Lieutenant Eslary was a long-time volunteer with the Wilpen Volunteer Fire Department, where he founded successful fundraising efforts. He was also a member of the local Masonic chapter and volunteered with various youth sports associations in the county.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 1017 in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, over Mill Creek is hereby designated the Lieutenant Eric Eslary Memorial Bridge.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.

Section 2. James Paul Takitch Honorary Highway.

(a) Designation.--The section of State Route 981 in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, from the intersection of State Route 981 and State Route 2021 to the intersection of State Route 981 and State Route 130, is hereby designated the James Paul Takitch Honorary Highway.

(b) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 3. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.