SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA — State officials are reviewing safety protocols and best practices for roadside enforcement after Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81.
The safety review follows the July 1 death of Pahira, a 19-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police who was fatally struck while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along I-81 in Cass Township. In response, Governor Josh Shapiro instructed Pennsylvania State Police leadership and PennDOT to collaborate on policy updates. The initiative aims to evaluate designated pull-off areas—such as weigh stations or off-interstate enforcement zones—to ensure officers have safer environments when performing vehicle stops and motor carrier inspections.
The update coincides with court proceedings for 33-year-old Michael Bon, the truck driver charged in connection with the crash. Bon faces charges including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, and recklessly endangering another person after his rig drifted onto the highway shoulder, striking Pahira’s parked patrol vehicle and pushing it into the truck being inspected.
