POTTSVILLE, Pa – A procession from Lehigh Valley Hospital Schuylkill for fallen state trooper Michael Pahira made its way through our region taking Route 61 to I-78 in Berks County.
Governor Shapiro, members of the state police, and others honored him following a tragic crash.
“Transported him here to this hospital and in total for more than an hour and a half – valiant effort was made to save Trooper Michael Pahira’s life but they were unsuccessful,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens with state police.
State Police say Pahira died after being hit by a truck Wednesday morning along Interstate 81 in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. Police say Pahira was conducting a vehicle safety inspection at 7:00 a.m. when a truck hit him and then caught fire.
“Other troopers and emergency personnel came to his aid and were able to remove him from other that truck and began to render aid. His injuries were very severe. He never regained consciousness,” Bivens said
Governor Josh Shapiro said his family described him as a devoted brother, uncle and son – and was helping his mother battle cancer.
“His buddies said that he always wanted to be a cop that’s how they thought of themselves in high school that they were gonna travel together down this road of public service,” Shapiro said.