Funeral procession held for police officer killed in Liberty Bridge crash

PITTSBURGH — A funeral was held Wednesday for a police officer who was killed last week in a motorcycle accident on the Liberty Bridge.

People lined the streets in Butler County to watch the procession that shut down part of Route 68 for officer Kristine Bartman, 30, of Harmony. She was a police officer for the Evans City-Seven Fields police department.

Hundreds turned out for Bartman’s funeral, with officers coming who never even met her before. Chopper 11 showed a three mile long procession along the roads she used to patrol.

Bartman had only been with the Evans City Police Department for 15 months, but she made a lasting impression.

“She was just a great person. A great officer. Everybody loved her,” Chief Joe McCombs said.

Emergency crews were called to the southbound lanes of the bridge shortly before 11 p.m. last Tuesday night. The motorcycle, driven by Bartman, struck the back of a car.

She was not on duty at the time of the crash and had just attended the Justin Bieber concert.

Bartman had been a member of the police force since 2015. Her grandfather and brother also work in law enforcement.

"She lit up the room," McCombs said. "She was becoming very comfortable in the position."

Cox Media Group