(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Schuylkill County, PA) Authorities confirm that a Pennsylvania State Police trooper was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County yesterday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the trooper that died as Michael Pahira, who was a nearly 20-year veteran that was assigned to Troop L’s Frackville station. According to investigators, Pahira was inspecting a commercial vehicle around 7 a.m. on I-81 South in Cass Township when another tractor-trailer left the roadway, crashing into him and the truck that he was inspecting before it caught fire. Police noted that Pahira died from his injuries. Shapiro ordered yesterday for flags to fly at half-staff to honor him and Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens stated during a press conference that “the man died a hero.”