SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was killed Wednesday morning after he was struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting an inspection on the side of I-81.
Michael Pahira, who served as a trooper for over 20 years, was struck just before 7 a.m., Lt. Col. George Bivens said during a press conference livestreamed by sister station WFMZ.
Bivens said Pahira was standing along the shoulder, speaking with the driver of a tractor-trailer, when another tractor-trailer left the roadway.
That tractor-trailer struck Pahira and continued with “a high rate of speed and a lot of force.” The truck then caught on fire, while Pahira was trapped under the front-end of the truck, Bivens said.
Emergency crews helped remove Pahira from under the truck and rendered aid. He was taken to a local hospital, but life-saving measures were unsuccessful.
Video of the crash and fire in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Jelissa DW)
Bivens said Pahira suffered severe injuries and never regained consciousness.
“The man died a hero,” Bivens said. “He was an outstanding trooper.”
State police are investigating the crash and said they’re currently unsure what led to the crash. Bivens said it was too early to say whether the tractor-trailer driver would face charges.
Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed the driver was being treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Their condition is unclear at this time.
Shapiro said flags will fly at half-staff to honor Pahira’s service.
Pahira received the State Police Commendation Medal in June 2016, according to a story from Skook News.