
Some three thousand mourners attended the Tuesday funeral in Portland of a Maine state trooper who was killed last week by a flying tire from a logging truck.

Law enforcement officers from the US and Canada commemorated the life of Detective Ben Campbell, 31, who was fatally injured when struck by the dislodged tire on Wednesday on Interstate 95 in Hampden.

Campbell was heading to a training event when he stopped to help a driver at around 7.30am whose car had spun off the freeway in a snow storm. The trooper was stood outside his car when he was hit by the tire.

The casket of Maine State Police detective Ben Campbell rests at the front of the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine

More than three thousand mourners attended the funeral on Tuesday, which included representatives from across the emergency services

The casket of Maine State Police detective Ben Campbell is wheeled down the aisle

Maine State Police officers prepare the flag for presentation to Hillary Campbell, Ben Campbell's widow (not shown)

Hillary Campbell (right) is escorted to her seat at for the service by a state trooper (center)

Hillary Campbell (center) clutches the flag after it was presented to her during a Law Enforcement Tribute

The second tire that also came loose from the truck rolled harmlessly into the median.

Each wheel weighed roughly 200 pounds. Local police continue to investigate why they became dislodged.

Campbell sustained extensive injuries from the impact of the tire.

He was taken to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor but was later pronounced dead.

Ben Campbell's casket is carried into the Cross Insurance Arena by fellow state troopers

Members of the Maine State Police stand during the funeral procession

Ben Campbell's widow (center) carrying their 6-month-old baby is escorted to the funeral service

A procession of police cars escorted Campbell's body from Millinocket, where he lived, to the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland for the memorial on Monday.

Campbell's wife, Hilary, tearfully addressed her husband's coffin during the service.

She said: 'I love you with every piece of my being,' adding that she'll make sure the couple's 6-month-old son, Everett, grows up knowing how selfless his dad was.

Ben Campbell died after he was struck on the side of I-95 in Hampden on Wednesday morning. He had served six-and-a-half years on the police force

Ben Campbell (right) and his wife (left) lived in Millinocket, Maine. Ben grew up in western Massachusetts and joined the Maine State Police in 2012

Speaking at the service, Colonel John Cote, commander of the Maine State Police, praised Campbell's 'positive outlook'.

'He understood just because he was arresting someone did not mean that person was a career criminal,' Cote said. 'Ben would talk to those folks and through those conversations, he would learn that many times the conduct that led to the arrest was simply the result of problems and circumstances within that person's life.

Campbell was killed in a freak accident when a tire flew off a passing logging truck on the I-95

The trooper was taken to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor but was later pronounced dead.

Two tires from the logging truck flew off. Investigators are trying to work out why they became dislodged

Last week Maine Governor Janet Mills ordered lowered to half staff across the state in honor of the fallen trooper.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Mills said: 'Our state is heartbroken over the loss of Detective Benjamin Campbell. Maine's law enforcement professionals put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our state, keep our communities safe, and help our fellow citizens.

'Detective Campbell dedicated his career to fulfilling that mission and, ultimately, gave his life in service of it. On behalf of the people of Maine, I express our deepest and unwavering gratitude for his service.'