Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police.
*Update: Posted 9:30 p.m. 7/01/26*
During a press conference, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that 44-year-old State Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. was the Trooper fatally killed during a commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 81 on Wednesday morning.
In the conference, Shapiro described Pahira, who served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 20 years, as one of Pennsylvania’s “finest public servants.”
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens provided preliminary information regarding the incident, reporting a tractor-trailer travelling south on I-81 left the roadway for as of yet unknown reasons and travelled onto the berm, where it struck Trooper Pahira’s inspection vehicle, and the truck being inspected before striking Trooper Pahira.
An investigation that was described as thorough is underway, and Bivens said it is too early to discuss charges at this time.
In a second release, it stated that Pahira enlisted in the State Police in January 2007 and had been assigned to Troop L as a motor carrier inspector.
Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered flags across the Commonwealth to be lowered to half staff in honor of Trooper Pahira.
*Original Story:*
A Pennsylvania State Trooper was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 81 this morning in Schuylkill County.
According to a release, the Trooper who was assigned to the Frackville Barracks of Troop L was conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning along Interstate 81 South, Mile Marker 119 in Cass Township.
It is reported that while inspecting the commercial vehicle, the Trooper was struck by a passing commercial vehicle, which then struck the vehicle being inspected.
The operator was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The Trooper, whose name will be reported at a later date, succumbed to their injuries.
Interstate 81 South remains closed while the investigation continues.