State lawmakers from Schuylkill County say they plan to introduce legislation renaming an interstate exit in honor of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr., who was killed in the line of duty last week and laid to rest on Wednesday.
State Sen. David Argall, R-29, and Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, circulated identical co-sponsorship memos on Tuesday seeking to designate Exit 119 on Interstate 81 as the “PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. Memorial Interchange.”
Pahira, a nearly 20-year veteran assigned to Troop L in Frackville, died July 1 after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection near that exit in Butler Township.
“Please join in honoring Trooper Pahira’s courageous service and ultimate sacrifice, by adding your name as a cosponsor to this invaluable legislation,” Twardzik wrote in a memo to House members.
Police records indicate Pahira was inspecting a parked freight truck on the right shoulder of I-81 southbound at approximately 7 a.m. His marked patrol vehicle had its emergency lights activated. A white 2019 Freightliner driven by Michael Bon, 33, of Brockton, Mass., veered off the travel lanes and struck the trooper’s vehicle, the truck being inspected, and Pahira.
The impact pinned Pahira beneath the front bumper of Bon’s truck, which immediately became engulfed in flames.
Nearby construction workers ran to the scene and successfully dragged Pahira about 30 yards away from the burning vehicles. Pahira was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-East in Pottsville, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Bon was arraigned on multiple charges, including felony homicide by vehicle, felony aggravated assault by vehicle, and involuntary manslaughter. He is currently being held at Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $700,000 bail and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.
The lawmakers stated the memorial interchange legislation will be formally introduced in both the state House and Senate in the near future.
State Trooper Killed in Schuylkill County Wednesday Identified as Michael Pahira
Nearby Construction Workers Pulled Fallen Trooper Pahira from Fire, Court Records Show
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