Funeral For Fallen State Trooper

GLADWIN (WWJ) - Friends and family gathered Saturday to bid a final farewell to Michigan State Trooper Jeffrey Werda. The funeral of trooper who died in a crash rushing to help other officers has ended with a helicopter flyover.

The funeral service for the 43-year-old, an 11 year veteran of the Michigan State Police Department, lasted more than two hours. The funeral was held Saturday at Gladwin High School, it drew about 2,000 emergency personnel from as far away as California.

Trooper Werda was killed Wednesday in a rollover accident near Birch Run as he was on his way to help fellow officers in a police chase.

Twenty-three-year-old Carl Entrekin will be in court April 20, for a preliminary exam. Entrekin will face charges that include fleeing and eluding police.

Wayne County Sheriff's department held their own tribute to the memory of the fallen officer.