A police cruiser draped in black banners and topped with a rose sat in front of the Jupiter , Florida , police department Monday morning , paying testament to a 20-year department veteran killed Sunday while helping escort President Barack Obama through Palm Beach County . Officer Bruce St. Laurent , 55 , was traveling with the presidential motorcade around 4:45 p.m. Sunday southbound on Interstate 95 through West Palm Beach when he pulled his motorcycle onto an on ramp , so he could stop traffic from accessing the highway , according to a statement released Monday by Palm Beach County Sheriff 's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera . The statement said St. Laurent drove into the path of a 1994 Ford F150 driven by Susan Holloway , 56 , of West Palm Beach , as she was accelerating to merge onto the interstate . Holloway hit the brakes to avoid the crash , but she hit St. Laurent 's motorcycle , knocking the officer from his motorcycle and trapping him under her pickup when the vehicles came to rest , the statement said . Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow said St. Laurent was transported to nearby St. Mary 's Medical Center , where he died Sunday . Barbera told CNN the statement details preliminary findings , and the ongoing investigation `` could take months . '' When the Palm Beach County Sheriff 's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol complete their investigation , state attorneys will determine whether any charges will be filed in the case . CNN senior photojournalist Peter Morris , who was in the motorcade , said this presidential caravan was longer than normal . In addition to the standard package of SUVs , he said three buses , including the president 's campaign bus , comprised Sunday 's motorcade south through Florida . Morris said motorcycle police often act as escorts and handle intersection control for motorcades . This is at least the fourth fatal accident in recent years involving motorcycles accompanying motorcades for presidents or presidential candidates . In November 2006 , three Honolulu motorcycle officers crashed on a rain-slicked road escorting President George W. Bush 's motorcade . One of the officers died several days later from his injuries . The following August , an Albuquerque police officer was killed in a crash as President Bush 's motorcade arrived at the airport . Then , in February 2008 , a Dallas police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash during then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton 's motorcade . Kitzerow visited St. Laurent 's family Monday morning to discuss funeral services , and memorial information will be made public when it is finalized , Jupiter police spokesman Sgt . Scott Pascarella said Monday . He added that in addition to the squad car memorial in front of the Jupiter police station , radio station 103.1 WIRK Country was there , raising money for St. Laurent 's family . The Jupiter Police Department was working on setting up an account at a local bank to gather money for the slain officer 's family as well , Pascarella said . WPTV : Officer honored in Jupiter . St. Laurent was born in Fall River , Massachusetts , in 1957 , but moved to Jupiter in 1973 , and had lived there ever since , according to a memorial statement on the town of Jupiter 's website . He began his decorated career with the Jupiter Police Department in 1992 . Three times , most recently in 2008 , St. Laurent was named `` Officer of the Quarter , '' and in 1996 , he was selected as `` Officer of the Year , '' according to the memorial . The memorial also credited St. Laurent with contributing to his community in several ways , including playing Santa Claus at local holiday events , helping high school students with physics experiments and helping Habitat for Humanity build houses for the needy . President Obama was notified of the death , White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters after Air Force One landed Sunday night in Washington . Carney added that the president 's thoughts and prayers were with the officer 's family . The crash happened near the front of the president 's motorcade , and Obama did not see it , Carney said . The White House spokesman said no other vehicles from the motorcade were involved . St. Laurent is survived by his wife of more than 30 years , Brenda , and four children , according to the memorial statement .
Police release details of accident that killed officer Bruce St. Laurent during motorcade . The 20-year veteran of the Jupiter Police Department died Sunday . Community members are honoring the officer with memorial , fundraising for family .