By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael E. Pahira, a 20-year veteran and motor carrier enforcement officer, died Tuesday after being struck by a speeding tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 81 near mile marker 119 in Schuylkill County.
- A tractor-trailer traveling at high speed left the roadway, struck Pahira’s parked inspection vehicle and the truck he was inspecting, trapping the trooper beneath the wreckage as a fire erupted.
- Fellow state troopers and EMS personnel extracted Pahira from beneath the vehicle and provided emergency care, but he never regained consciousness and died in the hospital after 90 minutes of resuscitation efforts.
- The driver of the tractor-trailer that struck Pahira was hospitalized; investigators are examining the crash and have not yet made a determination on potential charges.
- Acting State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens characterized Pahira as an excellent motor carrier enforcement officer and “one of our best.”
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA. — Trooper Michael E. Pahira, a 20-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, died Tuesday following a chain-reaction traffic crash on Interstate 81 during a commercial vehicle inspection operation.
Pahira was conducting a motor carrier enforcement inspection near mile marker 119 on the southbound lanes of I-81 when the incident occurred. He was positioned near the driver’s side door of the cab of the tractor-trailer being inspected, speaking with the vehicle operator. His inspection vehicle was parked directly behind the truck being inspected.
A second tractor-trailer traveling southbound on I-81 left the right roadway berm at a high rate of speed and struck Pahira’s parked inspection vehicle. The impact pushed the inspection vehicle into the tractor-trailer being inspected. The speeding truck then drove the inspected tractor-trailer a significant distance along the berm into the grass and along the left side of the vehicle.
Pahira was struck by the moving tractor-trailer and trapped beneath the wreckage. A fire erupted at the scene while the trooper remained pinned.
Other state police troopers and emergency medical services personnel responded immediately and worked to extract Pahira from beneath the vehicle. Once freed, responders initiated emergency medical care, but Pahira never regained consciousness during the rescue effort and transport to the hospital.
Despite a 90-minute resuscitation effort at the hospital, Pahira died from injuries sustained in the collision.
Acting State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens characterized Pahira’s service and sacrifice. “He was an outstanding trooper, an excellent motor carrier enforcement officer. He was considered to be one of our best. He died a hero.”
The driver of the speeding tractor-trailer that struck the inspection vehicle was transported to a hospital for treatment. His condition has not been disclosed. Bivens stated that investigators are conducting a thorough examination of the crash, including evidence collection from the nearly completely destroyed tractor-trailer. The matter will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office to determine whether charges are warranted, though Bivens emphasized it is premature to make charging decisions.
Governor Josh Shapiro released a statement characterizing Pahira as a devoted public servant. “Michael always wanted to be a police officer. He was a devoted brother, uncle and son. He was a good man and a good cop.”
All southbound lanes on I-81 between exit 124A and exit 119 were closed during the investigation.