A Massachusetts man has been charged in the highway death of a state trooper Wednesday morning in Schuylkill County.

Michael Bon of Brockton, Massachusetts, is being charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangering another person and related charges in the death of Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr.

An accomplished state trooper, Pahira is being mourned after being struck by a commercial vehicle as he inspected a truck along I-81 near the Highridge Business Park in Cass Township, Schuylkill County, early Wednesday.

Pahira, a 20-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, was inspecting a tractor trailer near mile marker 119 in the southbound lane just before 7 a.m. when another tractor trailer, speeding in the southbound lane, hit Pahira’s inspection pickup, which was parked behind the truck he was inspecting.

The force of the crash pushed Trooper Pahira’s vehicle into the tractor trailer as the trooper stood at the cab, talking to the driver.

Trooper Pahira was trapped under the moving tractor trailer, which caught fire. Emergency responders and fellow state troopers managed to pull him out from under the truck, but Trooper Pahira never regained consciousness, and died about 90 minutes later at LVHN-Schuylkill campus.

“The man died a hero,” said State Police Lt. Col. George L. Bevins. “He was one of our best.”

Pahira served as a motor carrier enforcement officer with Troop L, Frackville.

“Early this morning, Pennsylvania lost one of its finest public servants,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Called Mikey by his loved ones, Pahira “served his community with the utmost distinction,” Shapiro said at a news conference.

Pahira, 44, was survived by his parents, Michael and Patti, and a sister, Jen.

“Mike was a devoted brother, Mike was a devoted uncle, and Mike was a devoted son,” he said.

He loved modifying cars, watching documentaries and cooking. “He was a kind soul,” who loved making people laugh, Shapiro said.

Pahira recently moved back in with his parents to help them as his mother is battling cancer, the governor said.

Lt. Col. Bevins said state police are examining the tractor trailer that hit Trooper Pahira, although it was almost completely destroyed by the fire.

Both Bevins and Shapiro’s thanked LVHN Schuylkill, emergency responders, other troopers and bystanders who tried to help Pahira.

Pahira in 2016 was awarded the State Police Commendation medal after he and Trooper Matthew A. Tonitis, both then at the Schuylkill Haven barracks, rescued a man from a burning building.