David G. Argall
09/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2026 12:01
Bill to Rename I-81 Exit 119 After Fallen PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. Passes Senate
HARRISBURG - Legislation to designate the interchange of Interstate 81 with State Route 4007, known as Exit 119, on the border of Cass and Butler townships in Schuylkill County as the PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. Memorial Interchange was approved by Senate today.
Trooper Pahira tragically passed away on July 1 after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection along Interstate 81 in Cass Township. He joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007 and most recently served as a motor carrier enforcement inspector with Troop L, Frackville. He was the 106th state trooper to die in the line of duty.
"Pennsylvania suffered a tragedy this summer with the loss of Trooper Pahira in the line of duty," said Sen. Dave Argall (R-29). "Trooper Pahira represented the very best of our commonwealth, dedicating nearly 20 years of his life to serving his community and the people of Pennsylvania."
After Trooper Pahira's passing, Argall and Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-123) introduced legislation to honor his legacy of service. Their proposal was then incorporated into Senate Bill 1217, which now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
David G. Argall published this content on September 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 30, 2026 at 18:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]