A tractor-trailer struck and killed a state trooper inspecting another tractor-trailer Wednesday morning along Interstate 81 south in Schuylkill County.
Authorities identified the dead trooper as Michael Pahira, a trooper for almost 20 years.
At an afternoon news conference shown online, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Pahira's "buddies" told him that he dreamed of being a cop, loved to cook, work on cars and joke around and spent a recent day caring for his cancer-stricken mother.
“He was a good man, and he was a good cop, and he was taken from us far too soon, as he served our community,” Shapiro said. “We're all going to miss him.”
Shapiro ordered flags at state buildings to fly at half-staff.
How Pahira died
Acting State Police Commissioner George L. Bivens said Pahira was killed while conducting a motor safety inspection on I-81 as part of his normal duties.
He was inspecting a tractor-trailer near milepost 119 in Cass Twp., Bivens said. That’s about half a mile north of exit 119.
Pahira was standing on the berm speaking to the truck’s driver near the tractor-trailer’s driver’s side door, Bivens said. Pahira’s inspection pickup truck was parked behind the trailer.
The other tractor-trailer, southbound, left the interstate for an undetermined reason, struck the pickup truck and drove it forward, then struck the left rear of the stopped trailer, Bivens said.
The impact pushed the trailer “quite some distance down the berm and off into the grass,” he said. Still moving fast, the tractor-trailer that left the interstate struck the trooper and rolled “quite some distance down the road” with the trooper underneath.
The tractor-trailer “caught fire with the trooper trapped at the front end of the truck,” before stopping, Bivens said.
“His injuries were very severe. He never regained consciousness,” he said.
Paramedics and hospital staff tried valiantly to save Pahira’s life but were unsuccessful, Bivens said.
“The man died a hero. He was an outstanding trooper, an excellent motor carrier enforcement officer ... and was considered to be one of the best,” the acting commissioner said.
The truck that crashed into Pahira was “nearly completely destroyed,” Bivens said.
He promised a thorough investigation to “get the full picture as best (as) possible.”
“We can determine what occurred this morning and what led to this crash,” he said. “It’s too early to talk about whether there will be charges. Clearly, something very bad happened here.”
He thanked everyone who tried to help and said Pahira’s family is “very thankful.”
“We’ll work through this and get the family through it,” Bivens said. “We will be there for them and for the troopers that worked with trooper Pahira.”
The tractor-trailer's driver was hospitalized, police said. His condition was unknown.
'A devoted son'
Shapiro described Pahira as “a devoted uncle ... and devoted son.”
“He loved cars, especially modifying them, making them go faster,” the governor said. “I took note of the smiles that were on the faces of the people who love Mike today. They described him as funny when they opened up to me and to (Bivens) about the life (he) lived. They talked about his jokes. They talked about how he would bust everybody’s chops, and how he was just a kind soul.”
The governor described Pahira as “kind and gentle,” which he found interesting because the trooper “was also an outstanding wrestler.”
“A darn good cook,” Pahira moved back in with his parents to help his mom fight cancer, Shapiro said.
“He wanted to be closer to her,” he said.
Last night, Pahira prepared fajitas, “served the steak pickings” to his mother because she needs more iron while enduring treatment and gave the chicken to his father, the governor said.
“Mike, just in the last few days, helped her shave her head as she is going through treatments,” Shapiro said. “May the memory of Trooper Mike Pahira forever be a blessing.”
In a statement, state police union president Stephen Polishan called for prayers for Pahira's family and friends and lauded his two decades of "protecting his fellow citizens."
“He was the personification of our Call of Honor, serving with integrity and distinction," Polishan said. "Know this: Trooper Pahira was a hero, and we will spend the rest of our lives making sure he’s never forgotten."
In a separate statement, Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge President Joseph Regan expressed support for Pahira's family and described him as a dedicated trooper "who put duty above himself and made the ultimate sacrifice while working to keep our highways safe."
"Every day, law enforcement officers across the commonwealth step into harm's way without knowing what the day may bring. This heartbreaking tragedy is a solemn reminder that even routine enforcement activities carry extraordinary risks," Regan said.
