Funeral of LAPD officer to cause freeway, road closures

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LAPD pallbearers carry the casket of fellow officer Chris Cortijo during burial services at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lillie Price embraces the casket of her boyfriend, Chris Cortijo, during burial services at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Musician Billy Ray Cyrus performs in front of the casket of LAPD motorcycle officer Chris Cortijo during burial services at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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An LAPD officer touches the casket of fellow officer Chris Cortijo during burial services at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, right, thanks Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies who attended the funeral for LAPD motorcycle officer Christopher A. Cortijo. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The funeral procession for LAPD motor Officer Chris Cortijo heads north on the 101 Freeway toward Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills for interment. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Fellow motor officers serving as pallbearers roll the coffin of LAPD Officer Chris Cortijo into the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Jonathan Cortijo, center, son of LAPD motorcycle officer Christopher A. Cortijo, is comforted by his sister, Christina Beal, after they both spoke at their father’s funeral. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Archbishop Jose Gomez blesses the remains of LAPD Officer Chris Cortijo inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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LAPD officers fill the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for fellow officer Chris Cortijo’s funeral. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Pallbearers escort the coffin of LAPD motorcycle officer Chris Cortijo into the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Cortijo died four days after authorities says he was struck by an SUV in Sun Valley. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Pallbearers stand before the coffin of LAPD Officer Chris Cortijo outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, center, outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Pallbearers remove the coffin of LAPD motorcycle officer Chris Cortijo from the hearse outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Police officers stand by the hearse holding the coffin of LAPD Officer Chris Cortijo in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Tuesday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Hundreds of motor officers from various agencies arrive to the funeral for LAPD motor officer Christopher A. Cortijo. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Lillie Price, partner of slain Officer Chris Cortijo, comforts her granddaughter, Bella Garcia, 5, as they look at Cortijo’s body during a viewing at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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A police officer stands guard near the body of Officer Chris Cortijo during a viewing at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

By Jason Wells

April 22, 2014 5:42 AM PT

Officials are warning commuters to avoid the northbound 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday between 10:30 a.m. and noon as funeral services are held for a motorcycle officer who died several days after he was struck by an SUV.

Chris Cortijo, a member of the Los Angeles Police Department for nearly 27 years, was rear-ended April 5 by a Chevrolet Blazer while stopped on his motorcycle at a red light near Saticoy Street and Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley, authorities said.

Prosecutors allege that Qaneak Shaney Cobb, 33, was under the influence of cocaine when the SUV she was driving struck Cortijo. She has pleaded not guilty to a felony DUI charge and could face as up to 10 years in state prison if convicted.

A “significant number” of attendees are expected to turn out for Cortijo’s funeral at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and the subsequent procession to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, prompting a number of road closures, officials said.

Between 10:30 a.m. and noon, the California Highway Patrol will close northbound 101 Freeway access between the 110 Freeway and Barham Boulevard. In addition, the northbound and southbound 110 Freeway transition lanes to the 101 northbound lanes will be closed, according to Caltrans.

Motorists traveling northbound on the 101, approaching the 110, will be diverted onto the north or south transition lanes of the 110.

Also, numerous city streets surrounding the cathedral at 555 W. Temple Street will be closed off earlier in the morning.

Transportation officials advised commuters to add 30 minutes to their drive times as a result of the closures.

jason.wells@latimes.com

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