A Pennsylvania state trooper died Wednesday morning after being struck by a commercial vehicle while conducting a safety inspection on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. According to WBRE in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and public court filings, 33-year-old Michael Bon is facing charges of homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and other offenses in connection with the death of 44-year-old Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. Pahira, who had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for nearly 20 years, was assigned to Troop L in Frackville. He was conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection when he was hit by a passing vehicle. Crash sparked fire, sent driver to hospitalThe vehicle that struck Pahira then collided with the vehicle he was inspecting, which caught fire. Bon was taken to the hospital and is currently being treated. At the time of the incident, Pahira was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. “The man died a hero. We’ll work through this and get the family through this. We will be there for them and be there for the family who worked with Trp. Pahira,” State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said.Governor, police union honor Pahira’s serviceDuring a press conference earlier today, Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed the loss, saying, “I ask the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pray for the Pahira family. To pray for his friends and neighbors. To pray for Troop L where Mike served, and of course, pray for the entire Pennsylvania State Police community. As the governor of this Commonwealth, I am profoundly grateful and I sleep better at night knowing the Pennsylvania State Police does this work in communities across our Commonwealth.””Our FOP extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to the member’s family and all of our brothers and sisters who remain to carry out the duties of the Pennsylvania State Police,” the Fraternal Order of Police said. Lt. Col. Bivens said the incident remains under investigation.Video below: Black smoke engulfs scene on I-81
A Pennsylvania state trooper died Wednesday morning after being struck by a commercial vehicle while conducting a safety inspection on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.
According to WBRE in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and public court filings, 33-year-old Michael Bon is facing charges of homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and other offenses in connection with the death of 44-year-old Trooper Michael Pahira Jr.
Pahira, who had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for nearly 20 years, was assigned to Troop L in Frackville. He was conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection when he was hit by a passing vehicle.
Crash sparked fire, sent driver to hospital
The vehicle that struck Pahira then collided with the vehicle he was inspecting, which caught fire. Bon was taken to the hospital and is currently being treated.
At the time of the incident, Pahira was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“The man died a hero. We’ll work through this and get the family through this. We will be there for them and be there for the family who worked with Trp. Pahira,” State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said.
Governor, police union honor Pahira’s service
During a press conference earlier today, Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed the loss, saying, “I ask the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pray for the Pahira family. To pray for his friends and neighbors. To pray for Troop L where Mike served, and of course, pray for the entire Pennsylvania State Police community. As the governor of this Commonwealth, I am profoundly grateful and I sleep better at night knowing the Pennsylvania State Police does this work in communities across our Commonwealth.”
“Our FOP extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to the member’s family and all of our brothers and sisters who remain to carry out the duties of the Pennsylvania State Police,” the Fraternal Order of Police said.
Lt. Col. Bivens said the incident remains under investigation.
Video below: Black smoke engulfs scene on I-81