A Florida sheriff’s deputy with ties to Massachusetts was hit and killed by a wrong-way driver Saturday morning.
Police said Officer John Kotfila’s cruiser collided head-on with the other driver, who died at the scene. The 30-year-old Kotfila was brought to the hospital, where he later died.
Kotfila worked as a traffic crash investigator.
He is the son of a Massachusetts State Police sergeant, grandson of a retired Massachusetts State Police sergeant and the brother of a police officer in Falmouth.
According to police, Kotfila died while sacrificing himself as a shield to protect a driver as a wrong-way driver drove at them.
A memorial service will be held this week in Florida. Several Massachusetts state troopers will attend.
A wake in Massachusetts will be held on March 22 in Falmouth. The funeral services will be held on March 23 in Falmouth.
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