https://archive.triblive.com/local/westmoreland/state-trooper-killed-in-ligonier-township-crash/
State trooper killed in Ligonier Township crash
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
A garbage truck involved in a crash with a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle is seen just before the fork of routes 711 and 271 in Ligonier Township on Friday, July 14, 2017.
A state trooper was killed in a crash when a police sport utility vehicle collided with a garbage truck early Friday in Ligonier Township.
Trooper Michael P. Stewart, 26, of the Latrobe area, died in the crash. His partner was flown to an area hospital with injuries, including a concussion, Trooper Stephen Limani said at a news conference.
Both officers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, Limani said.
The officers were traveling south on Route 711 during a routine patrol when the crash occurred about 2:20 a.m. The garbage truck collided with the cruiser as it was making a left turn out of a parking lot to head north on Route 711.
It is too early to tell if drugs or alcohol were involved, Limani said, adding that there is not yet enough information about the crash to assign fault.
State police are investigating the crash and will reconstruct the accident to determine whether the garbage truck and police cruiser were visible to each other.
When asked if this posed a conflict of interest, Limani said that several state police troops would assist with the investigation.
Limani acknowledged that this intersection has raised concerns in the past; however, it is not patrolled by state police, so he was unable to comment further on the intersection.
The operator of the garbage truck, 26-year-old John Hissem of the Ligonier area, was not injured. The garbage truck is owned by McInchok Sanitation in Ligonier.
"My thoughts, and the thoughts of the entire department, are with the family of Trooper Stewart during this difficult time," Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Tyree C. Blocker said in the release. "Trooper Stewart served the commonwealth honorably, and we join all Pennsylvanians to mourn his passing."
Stewart enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in January 2014. He had been assigned to Greensburg since August 2015, according to the news release.
Stewart graduated in 2008 from Greater Latrobe Senior High School, said Michael Porembka, the school district's director of teaching and learning.
The department does not yet have information on funeral arrangements.
Thoughts & prayers are with Trooper Michael P. Stewart, his family & the @PAStatePolice . A sad day for everyone... pic.twitter.com/NmLLWv9ozu
— Scott Schubert (@PghPoliceChief) July 14, 2017
Frances and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Trooper Michael P. Stewart. We send our sincerest sympathies to his family. https://t.co/8o2LQBz33B— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) July 14, 2017
Stewart is the second law enforcement officer to die in a crash in Ligonier Township in two years. Township police Lt. Eric Eslary was on patrol in May 2015 when he was killed by a wrong-way driver in a horrific wrong-way collision on Route 30. Eslary, 40, is survived by his wife and four children. Eslary's K9, Blek, was seriously injured in the crash and was retired from police service. Stewart is the 98th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to be killed in the line of duty. The Pennsylvania State Police Greensburg troop last lost a trooper in the line of duty in 1992, according to Limani. Jamie Martines is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-850-2867, jmartines@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Jamie_Martines.Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)