“He was a fixture in the courthouse,” said Trooper D.P. Efird of the state Highway Patrol, who investigated the crash that occurred shortly before 4 p.m.

Efird said a pickup truck was preparing to make a lefthand turn onto Post Office Road when the crash occurred.

Magee, 67, apparently did not see that the truck was turning until the last minute. It appears he tried to avoid the collision with the rear of truck and laid his motorcycle down, but was thrown from the bike and became wedged between the bike and pickup. He died at the scene, Efird said.

Magee was known for diffusing a potentially deadly situation at the Northampton County Courthouse in July of 2006 when he fatally wounded an inmate who lifted a gun from a correctional officer and fired shots.

Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith said this evening Magee's death is a blow to the sheriff's office, the county clerk of courts office and the lawyers and other staff who frequent the courthouse. “He was well known to the clerk's office. He was a well-trained, true professional. It's shocking.”

Smith said Magee had been out on sick leave since February but was scheduled to come back to work next month. “The loss is just devastating.”