SCHUYLKILL CO. (WOLF) — Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira will be laid to rest Wednesday following his line-of-duty death.

Pahira, a 20-year veteran, was killed on July 1 when he was hit by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.

Public visitation is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the North Schuylkill High School Auditorium at 15 Academy Lane in Ashland, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial services are private.

The funeral service can be watched below, courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services.

Pahira was a standout wrestler and football player from North Schuylkill High School and continued his wrestling career at East Stroudsburg University. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 2007 as a member of the 124th Cadet Class.

Mike earned the respect and admiration of both his fellow troopers and the communities he so proudly protected. His unwavering integrity, professionalism, and commitment to public service reflected the very best of the Pennsylvania State Police.

— Obituary of Trooper Michael Pahira

In his memory, memorial contributions are being made to set up a wrestling scholarship in the fallen trooper’s name.

The driver of the tractor-trailer that fatally struck Pahira is facing vehicular homicide charges. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that Michael Bon, the driver, is a Haitian national who was in the United States illegally.

DHS said Bon entered the United States in July 2024 after being released into the country by federal authorities. The agency said he later applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in October 2024, but the application was never approved. The department also said Bon was issued a Massachusetts commercial driver’s license (CDL) before the crash.

The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PTSA) called for answers after Pahira’s death.

“This is not about politics. This is about right versus wrong. Trooper Pahira was a hero, and his family, fellow troopers and the public deserve answers. They need to know why the person accused of this senseless killing, who was in the United States illegally, had been granted a commercial driver’s license in Massachusetts.”Comment with Bubbles

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— PSTA President Stephen Polishan