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 in Easton, according to 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 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 before hitting Bacorn’s vehicle, state police said.

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Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement 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 and the Maryland Municipal Police Executive Association.

“Denton, Caroline County, and all of Maryland is a better place because of his courage and public service,” Moore said. He ordered the Maryland flag to be lowered to half-staff.

Sheriff Matt Crisafulli, president of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, said 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,” Crisafulli said.