Maryland state and local leaders are mourning the death of Denton Police Chief George William Bacorn Jr., who was killed Friday morning in a head-on vehicle crash in Talbot County.

Bacorn, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Easton, according to the Maryland State Police. He had served as Denton’s police chief for 36 years.

The other vehicle’s driver, Antonio Jaquan Handy, 31, of Salisbury, was taken to a trauma center, according to the news release. His current condition was not immediately clear.

Around 11:30 a.m., Bacorn was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe eastbound on Route 331 near Dover Neck Road when Handy, who was driving a Ford Transit delivery truck westbound, crossed the double-yellow line for unknown reasons, state police said. Handy’s vehicle first hit the side mirror of a Chevrolet Silverado, then continued westbound before hitting the Bacorn’s vehicle head-on, state police said.

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Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement on Friday that Bacorn “embodied the meaning of serving others and dedicated his life to keeping communities safe for everyone.” Bacorn also helped lead the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association as well as the Maryland Municipal Police Executives Association.

“Denton, Caroline County, and all of Maryland is a better place because of his courage and public service,” said Moore. He ordered that the Maryland Flag to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the late police chief.

Sheriff Matt Crisafulli, the president of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, said that Bacorn’s “leadership, dedication, and commitment to the residents he served represent the very best of our profession.”

“His sudden and tragic passing in a motor vehicle crash is a tremendous loss to his family, his department, the Town of Denton, and our law enforcement throughout our state,” said Crisafulli.