A local community is mourning the loss of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael Stewart, 26, of the Greensburg Barracks.
He was killed Friday in a crash involving a garbage truck.
Stewart would have turned 27 years old next week.
He was killed when the SUV cruiser he was driving collided with a McInchock garbage truck.
"It's one of those things you don't ever want to hear, but it happens and it's terrible,” said TJ Dovie, who grew up with Stewart. "He was always fun. He was always a fun person. I remember joking around all the time on the bus, and (I had) seen him at parties a few times. He was always a fun guy to be around."
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Stewart was a graduate of Latrobe High School. He enlisted with the state police in 2014.
Before leaving for the academy, he worked at Steelers training camp for years. Channel 11 reached out to the the team: "He was a longtime worker at Steelers training camp and the organization sends its condolences to the family."
"Loved going out into the community to try and protect and serve the people he grew up with," Dovie said.
"We all strive that when we go out and do our job and then you out yourself out near your home and you take it a little more personal to keep your hometown safe," said Pennsylvania State Police trooper Steve Limani.