A Pennsylvania state trooper was killed on Wednesday morning after a tractor-trailer veered off Interstate 81 and struck him while he was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection in Schuylkill County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. WGAL obtained court documents detailing the moments leading up to the crash and the rescue efforts that followed. Authorities said Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., 44, of Troop L in Frackville, was inspecting a red Freightliner tractor-trailer that was carrying a trailer loaded with trash shortly after 7 a.m. near Exit 119, Highridge Park Road, in Butler Township. According to investigators, Pahira had parked his marked patrol vehicle on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated. Michael Bon, 33, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was driving a white Freightliner with a trailer loaded with clothing when he traveled out of the southbound lanes and onto the shoulder, according to the documents. Police said Bon’s truck first struck the mirror of Pahira’s patrol vehicle, then hit the rear of the tractor-trailer that was being inspected before striking Pahira. According to investigators, the impact pinned Pahira beneath the front bumper of Bon’s truck.Officials said a large fire broke out and quickly engulfed Bon’s tractor-trailer.Video below: Flames erupt after deadly crash Construction workers pulled trooper from beneath truck, police say According to state police, three construction workers nearby saw smoke and ran to the scene. Investigators said the workers found Pahira trapped under the truck and pulled him out before dragging him about 30 yards south from the burning wreckage. The workers described the heavy flames engulfing the tractor-trailers and tires exploding from the heat. Police said another witness traveling on the interstate saw the fire, pulled over and called 911. Dash camera footage reviewedAccording to police, the driver of the truck being inspected was in the cab applying the brakes at Pahira’s request while the trooper checked the brake lines.The driver told investigators he felt the impact and briefly lost consciousness before seeing workers carrying Pahira away from the wreckage.Investigators said they later obtained dash camera footage from the inspected truck, which showed Pahira moments before he was struck.Pahira was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.A stretch of Interstate 81 southbound remained closed for hours as state police investigated the crash. Video below: Smoke billows from crash sceneDriver charged with homicideAccording to state police, the section of Interstate 81 where the crash happened is straight and had no roadway defects or adverse weather conditions.Investigators said the vehicles involved were parked safely off the travel lanes, meaning Bon’s truck would have had to leave the roadway to strike them.Bon is charged with:Homicide by vehicleAggravated assault by vehicleRecklessly endangering another personInvoluntary manslaughterReckless drivingCareless drivingDuty of driver in relation to emergency response areaDriving on roadways laned for trafficObedience to traffic control deviceTimeline of events7:01 a.m. — Trooper Pahira conducts a commercial vehicle inspection on I-81 southbound near mile marker 119 Shortly after 7 a.m. — Police say Michael Bon’s truck leaves the roadway, strikes the patrol vehicle, the inspected truck and Pahira Immediately after crash — Fire breaks out and engulfs Bon’s truck and trailer, according to police 911 call — A witness traveling on the interstate sees the fire, pulls over and calls 911 Rescue effort — Construction workers nearby pull Pahira from beneath the truck and move him away from the flames 11:45 a.m. — Pahira is pronounced dead at the hospital Charged — Bon was charged with homicide by vehicle and other offenses Governor, police union honor Pahira’s serviceDuring a press conference, 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.
BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A Pennsylvania state trooper was killed on Wednesday morning after a tractor-trailer veered off Interstate 81 and struck him while he was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection in Schuylkill County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
WGAL obtained court documents detailing the moments leading up to the crash and the rescue efforts that followed.
Authorities said Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., 44, of Troop L in Frackville, was inspecting a red Freightliner tractor-trailer that was carrying a trailer loaded with trash shortly after 7 a.m. near Exit 119, Highridge Park Road, in Butler Township.
Hearst OwnedWGAL
Trooper Michael Pahira Jr.
According to investigators, Pahira had parked his marked patrol vehicle on the right shoulder with emergency lights activated.
Michael Bon, 33, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was driving a white Freightliner with a trailer loaded with clothing when he traveled out of the southbound lanes and onto the shoulder, according to the documents.
Police said Bon’s truck first struck the mirror of Pahira’s patrol vehicle, then hit the rear of the tractor-trailer that was being inspected before striking Pahira. According to investigators, the impact pinned Pahira beneath the front bumper of Bon’s truck.
Officials said a large fire broke out and quickly engulfed Bon’s tractor-trailer.
Video below: Flames erupt after deadly crash
Construction workers pulled trooper from beneath truck, police say
According to state police, three construction workers nearby saw smoke and ran to the scene. Investigators said the workers found Pahira trapped under the truck and pulled him out before dragging him about 30 yards south from the burning wreckage.
The workers described the heavy flames engulfing the tractor-trailers and tires exploding from the heat.
Police said another witness traveling on the interstate saw the fire, pulled over and called 911.
Dash camera footage reviewed
According to police, the driver of the truck being inspected was in the cab applying the brakes at Pahira’s request while the trooper checked the brake lines.
The driver told investigators he felt the impact and briefly lost consciousness before seeing workers carrying Pahira away from the wreckage.
Investigators said they later obtained dash camera footage from the inspected truck, which showed Pahira moments before he was struck.
Pahira was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A stretch of Interstate 81 southbound remained closed for hours as state police investigated the crash.
Video below: Smoke billows from crash scene
Driver charged with homicide
According to state police, the section of Interstate 81 where the crash happened is straight and had no roadway defects or adverse weather conditions.
Investigators said the vehicles involved were parked safely off the travel lanes, meaning Bon’s truck would have had to leave the roadway to strike them.
Bon is charged with:
Homicide by vehicleAggravated assault by vehicleRecklessly endangering another personInvoluntary manslaughterReckless drivingCareless drivingDuty of driver in relation to emergency response areaDriving on roadways laned for trafficObedience to traffic control deviceTimeline of events7:01 a.m. — Trooper Pahira conducts a commercial vehicle inspection on I-81 southbound near mile marker 119 Shortly after 7 a.m. — Police say Michael Bon’s truck leaves the roadway, strikes the patrol vehicle, the inspected truck and Pahira Immediately after crash — Fire breaks out and engulfs Bon’s truck and trailer, according to police 911 call — A witness traveling on the interstate sees the fire, pulls over and calls 911 Rescue effort — Construction workers nearby pull Pahira from beneath the truck and move him away from the flames 11:45 a.m. — Pahira is pronounced dead at the hospital Charged — Bon was charged with homicide by vehicle and other offenses Governor, police union honor Pahira’s service
During a press conference, 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.