A Massachusetts man faces felony vehicular homicide charges after his tractor-trailer veered off Interstate 81 on Wednesday morning, killing a 20-year veteran Pennsylvania State Trooper during a routine traffic stop.

State police arrested Michael Bon, 33, of Brockton, Massachusetts, on Wednesday night following the fiery crash in Schuylkill County that claimed the life of 44-year-old Trooper Michael Pahira.

According to authorities, Pahira — who worked out of the Frackville barracks of Troop L— was conducting a routine commercial inspection around 7 a.m. near mile marker 119 in Cass Twp. According to the affidavit, the tractor-trailer being inspected was full of trash. Both the tractor-trailer and Pahira’s parked patrol pickup were pulled over fully onto the right shoulder of the southbound lane.

While Pahira was speaking directly with the driver of a parked tractor-trailer, Bon’s truck suddenly veered off the roadway into the right shoulder.

Bon’s truck hit the side mirror of Pahira’s vehicle, plowed into the rear of the stopped tractor-trailer and struck the trooper. Police said Pahira was struck and pinned beneath the bumper of Bon’s truck, which then came to a stop and burst into flames.

According to the affidavit, nearby construction workers observed smoke and headed towards the scene. They managed to pull Pahira out from beneath the vehicle and drag him about 30 yards away from the wreckage.

Pahira never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead later Wednesday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill in Pottsville. Bon was also transported to the hospital for undisclosed injuries.

Following the tragedy, Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens held an emotional afternoon press conference at the hospital, praising Pahira as a dedicated family man and an exceptional law enforcement officer.

“This man died a hero,” Bivens said.

Bon now faces 10 total charges. In addition to felony vehicular homicide and felony vehicular aggravated assault, he is charged with misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and involuntary manslaughter, alongside summary traffic offenses including reckless and careless driving.

Bon was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel and is currently held in Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post $700,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16.