'He will never be forgotten' Section of I-75 named for Deputy Christopher Taylor

PORT CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte County deputy killed in the line of duty will be memorialized on the highway where he died.

The Florida Legislature recently adopted a bill to rename a section of Interstate 75 as “Deputy Sheriff Christopher Taylor Memorial Highway,” running between Harborview Road in Port Charlotte and Duncan Road outside Punta Gorda.

The Charlotte County Commission passed a unanimous resolution in support of the renaming on Tuesday, with Taylor’s family in attendance.

Commissioners offered their sympathy to the family and expressed hope the highway naming would convene the community’s goodwill to Taylor, who died serving the public.

“He will never be forgotten,” Chairman Bill Truex said prior to the resolution vote. “We will make sure it never happens.”

Taylor had been a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy for about a year when he conducted a traffic stop on I-75 in November 2022.

During that traffic stop, a drunk driver struck his patrol vehicle from behind. The driver he stopped was injured; Taylor was run over with his own vehicle.

Taylor died after both bystanders and first responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene.

Thousands of law enforcement officers from across southwest Florida attended Taylor’s memorial service in Babcock Ranch following his death.

The driver of the vehicle at-fault for the crash, Cassandra Smith, was convicted of DUI manslaughter and related charges in late 2023 and sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Speaking at the county board meeting on Tuesday, Christopher Taylor’s father, Richard Taylor, thanked commissioners, CCSO, and the community for the support for his son and the people who knew him best.

“I have no words, and I am eternally grateful to you,” he said prior to the resolution vote.

A temporary memorial has been placed on I-75, near the place where the fatal crash occurred.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Capt. John Heck noted that the memorial, maintained by private citizens, could not remain permanently but the designation in Taylor’s name would be a fitting reminder to the his memory.

“FDOT has been very kind to us,” Heck said, noting the department’s cooperation will allowing the previous memorial.