Duty Death: Richard Anthony Champion - [Perryopolis]
End of Service: 14/12/2014
By Chris Buckley
The Valley Independent
PERRYOPOLIS, Pa. — Rich Champion put his life on the line for his country and later for his community.
“As I told his wife, ‘Rich was on the battlefield in Iraq and he was on the battlefield of the highway and, unfortunately, he lost his life on the battlefield of the highway,’” Perryopolis police Capt. Steve Kontaxes said.
Champion lost his life on Sunday while trying to make a hazardous section of Route 51 safer for area motorists and residents.
Champion, 35, of Ligonier Township, a part-time Perryopolis police officer, was killed in a two-vehicle accident while chasing a third vehicle.
Kontaxes said police know that Champion was chasing a suspect, adding, “We do not know what he saw or observed.
“We are making an effort to find that individual (he was chasing,)” the officer added.
The investigation, being handled by state police, is ongoing, Kontaxes said.
Champion was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 p.m. by Fayette Deputy Coroner John Kondrla, said Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly.
“We lost a good officer, a good friend,” Kontaxes said. “He was out there keeping people safe and he paid the ultimate price.”
The accident occurred at 1:13 p.m. on Route 51 in Perry Township. Champion was alone in the police cruiser at the time of the accident.
According to state police at Belle Vernon Barracks, Champion was traveling southbound on Route 51 in the left lane with the emergency lights and siren activated on his police cruiser.
A Trailblazer driven by Andrew V. Bohatch, 59, of Uniontown, owner of Big Barn Country Store and Deli, turned left at his store and into the path of Champion’s police cruiser.
After the collision, Bohatch’s SUV spun and came to rest in the southbound lanes of Route 51.
Champion’s car spun and left the west side of the roadway, striking a business and came to rest, facing north. The cruiser then caught on fire.
Perry Township, Fayette City and Flatwoods volunteer firefighters responded to the scene, said A.J. Boni, Perry Township assistant fire chief.
Jim Bohatch, who co-owns the Big Barn Country Store and Deli, was in the store at the time and ran out with a fire extinguisher to try to fight the vehicle fire.
State police said Andrew Bohatch was transported by Fayette Emergency Medical Service to Uniontown Hospital. But a hospital supervisor could not confirm if Bohatch was brought there and, if so, report on his condition.
The accident closed the highway in both directions just south of Perryopolis.
Boni, who is also a Perry Township supervisor, said he knew Champion through his work with the neighboring Perryopolis Police Department.
“Our prayers and thoughts go out to the police department as well as his family,” said Boni.
Champion is survived by his wife, Dawn, and a 16-month-old son.
Kontaxes said he met with his fellow Perryopolis police officers and with members of Champion’s family on Sunday.
“Everybody is very saddened,” Kontaxes said. “Rich was very well liked. But they also realize the job we do is very dangerous.
“Every officer knows the day you go on duty you may not go home.”
Kontaxes said the department has been targeting the stretch of Route 51 where Champion was killed for some time.
“That section of 51 is particularly dangerous because there are a lot of businesses there and people go in and out of there,” Kontaxes said. “We’ve seen people going 70, 80, 90 miles an hour.
“He was trying to help the public remain safe.”
Copyright 2014 The Valley Independent