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Officer who died was not involved in pursuit

2 min read
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A state police station commander said that it is a “mischaracterization” to say that Perryopolis police Officer Richard Champion was involved in a pursuit when his police cruiser impacted with a sports-utility vehicle yesterday.

Sgt. Gino Fagnilli, commander of the Belle Vernon station, told the Associated Press that Champion, 35, of Ligonier, was trying to catch up to a motorist he intended to pull over for speeding when Andrew Bohatch Jr., 59, of Uniontown turned his SUV left from the northbound lane of Route 51 into the parking lot of the Big Barn Country Store and Deli, and into the path of Champion’s police car.

Fagnilli said investigators don’t believe the motorist even realized that Champion, who was traveling in the southbound lane of Route 51, was trying to catch up and make a traffic stop, according to the AP.

Bohatch, who was also injured in the 1:12 p.m. crash, remains in critical condition at a Pittsburgh hospital.

After the impact, witnesses said that Champion’s cruiser caught on fire, prompting nearby people to try and rescue him. They were unable to free Champion from the police vehicle.

Earlier today, Gov. Tom Corbett ordered flags at the state Capitol flown at half-staff to honor Champion, who had been employed part time by the borough police department since March. The flags will remain that way until Champion is buried.

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