The Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was killed in an early-morning crash in Ligonier was laid to rest Tuesday.
Trooper Michael Stewart was killed when his patrol vehicle collided with a garbage truck shortly after 3 a.m. near the intersection of Routes 711 and 271. He was a week shy of his 27th birthday.
Police officers from as far away as Colorado, Utah and Texas came to the funeral and procession.
Trooper Stewart was buried at Unity Cemetery in Latrobe, following a funeral Mass at Holy Family Church in Latrobe. Hundreds showed up during two days of visitation Sunday and Monday at the John J. Lopatich Funeral Home in Latrobe, where the Fraternal Order of Police also held a memorial service Monday evening.
“You always know that when you get an early call like that, you know it’s not going to be good,” said the Rev. Robert Byrnes, the chaplain of the Greensburg barracks where Trooper Stewart was stationed. Rev. Byrnes, speaking at the funeral, said Trooper Stewart was “truly dedicated to his oath of office.”
The funeral procession left from the church on Chestnut Street to Jefferson Street, Irving Avenue, took a right onto Ligonier Street, a right onto Route 982 south then onto Route 30 west. It then proceeded along St. Vincent Drive, Monastery Drive and onto Unity Cemetery Road.
Trooper Stewart joined the force in 2014. He worked out of the Greensburg barracks for nearly two years, and was previously assigned to Troop H Chambersburg. He graduated from Greater Latrobe Senior High School in 2008 and from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in criminal justice in 2012 before joining the state police. He also attended Westmoreland County Community College.
For several years, he worked summers at the Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, relatives said.
He is survived by his parents, Michael Stewart Jr. and Lynn Stewart, as well as his brother, Jason Stewart, his paternal grandmother, Becky Stewart, and his maternal grandparents, Richard and Mary Crawford, all of Latrobe. He is also survived by his girlfriend, Meredith Lehman, of Adamsburg.
The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Troopers Helping Troopers Foundation in Harrisburg.
A colleague who was riding with Trooper Stewart in the state police SUV when it crashed suffered a concussion. The driver of the garbage truck was uninjured.
Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, read a brief biography of Trooper Stewart on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, and the Senate held a brief moment of silence in his honor.
The Associated Press contributed.
First Published: July 18, 2017, 9:47 a.m.
Updated: July 18, 2017, 9:17 p.m.
