ASHLAND, Pa. – The community is looking back on the life of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who died after being hit by a commercial vehicle last week.
He is being laid to rest Wednesday in Schuylkill County. An American flag hangs from an archway ahead of his funeral.
Trooper Pahira Jr. tragically lost his life in the line of duty on July 1 after he was hit by a tractor trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on another truck on I-81 in Cass Township.
Trooper First Class Michael Pahira Jr. was 44 years old. He is the 106th Pennsylvania State Trooper to lose his life in the line of duty.
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He was from Ashland. A son. A brother. An uncle. A North Schuylkill graduate who stood out in the classroom and Athletics.
He was a district champion wrestler in high school, then continued wrestling at East Stroudsburg University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
But his obituary says service was his lifelong calling.
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Pahira graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 2007 as part of the 124th Cadet Class.
Over nearly two decades, he served with Troop N in Lehighton, then with Troop L in Schuylkill Haven and Frackville — first as a patrol trooper, and later as a Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector.
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Those who knew him describe a life built around integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the communities he protected.
On Wednesday morning we spoke to Gail Kufrovich, whose son was very good friends with Pahira, and asked her to describe his personality for those who didn’t know him.
“He was, he was a fun guy. He always had cowboy hat on, boots, a cigar. He was a good friend. He was a good person. He was a great citizen, a great police officer,” Kufrovich said.
She adds this tragedy has impacted so many people and brought not only people in Ashland and Frackville, but statwide. She spoke on the amount of caring and compassion that people have and will be on full display Wednesday.
“It’s impacted so many people and brought not only people in Ashland and Frackville, but I mean throughout the state, and it’s just like I said, it’s just overwhelming. It’s the amount of caring and compassion that people have,” she said.
Stay with 69 News for continuing team coverage of Trooper Michael Pahira Jr Funeral on 69 News at Sunrise and at Noon.