From staff reports

ASHLAND — The Pennsylvania State Police have announced funeral arrangements for Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr., who was killed in the line of duty July 1 while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection in Schuylkill County.

Visitation will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, 15 Academy Lane, Ashland. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Both the visitation and funeral are open to the public. Burial services will be private.

The funeral service will be livestreamed by Commonwealth Media Services and will also be available on the Pennsylvania State Police Facebook page.

State police are advising motorists to expect heavy traffic and delays throughout the day, particularly along Route 61. Residents, businesses and emergency responders are encouraged to plan accordingly.

Pahira died after being struck by a commercial motor vehicle while conducting an inspection along Interstate 81 in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. According to state police, he was outside his patrol vehicle inspecting a stopped commercial truck when a second tractor-trailer left the roadway, struck his patrol vehicle and the truck being inspected before hitting Pahira. Both trucks caught fire after the collision. Pahira was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Pahira enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in January 2007 and graduated from the State Police Academy later that year. After serving at Troop N in Lehighton and Troop L in Schuylkill Haven, he transferred to Troop L in Frackville in 2016, where he served as a motor carrier inspector in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.

He is the 106th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty.

Those wishing to support Pahira’s family may make donations to the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association’s Survivor’s Fund. Checks should be made payable to the “Survivor’s Fund” with “Pahira” written in the memo line.