John Kotfila, Hero Sheriff's Deputy, Honored in Falmouth Funeral

Photo: John Kotfila, Jr., who was killed after shielding another woman from a wrong-way driver in Tampa earlier this month (Credit: Mass. State Police)

FALMOUTH, MA - A Florida sheriff's deputy from Falmouth who was killed in a horrific crash was honored in a heartfelt hometown funeral Wednesday.

Deputy John Kotfila Jr. used his cruiser to block a wrong-way driver from striking another vehicle in Tampa on March 12, witnesses said.

Kotfila died in the crash but his actions saved a woman's life, according to reports.

"He sacrificed himself," the woman, Sarah Geren told the Tampa Bay Times.

Police from all over the commonwealth came to pay their respects to the fallen deputy on Wednesday and there was a huge turnout for a "light the way" motorcade in his honor.

Kotfila came from a law enforcement family: his father is a State Police sergeant and his brother is a Falmouth police officer.

Kotfila was proud to follow in his father's footsteps, police said.

"Sergeant Kotfila instilled in his children the same sense of duty, dedication, and service to others that he himself has embraced throughout his career," Mass. State Police said in a statement.