'Hero and leader': Florida Highway Patrol trooper killed in crash was a Navy veteran

ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is mourning the loss of one of their own after an early morning crash in Orlando.

Trooper Tracy Vickers, 31, was killed after hitting some construction equipment and crashing into a vehicle Friday morning around 6:00 a.m. on State Road 408 near the Conway Road exit in Orlando.

The trooper's patrol car was covered by a blue tarp on Friday as investigators attempted to reconstruct the scene and figure out how one of their own was killed. Trooper Vickers succumbed to his injuries and was escorted to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office.

"We're all heartbroken at this tragic loss," said FHP Colonel Gene Spaulding during a news conference. "He was on the midnight shift on the Turnpike and returning to his residence at the end of the shift." 

Spaulding called Vicker's a "trooper's trooper."

"He served as a field training officer, he trained and mentored new troops, and he also served on FHPs quick response force, responding to hurricanes, civil unrest and other major incidents."

Retired FHP Chief Joe Lopez said he worked with Vickers on the Quick Response Force, which deals with hurricanes and other major events,.

"I couldn't believe it could be one of our own. Very humble, very quiet, very professional. Extremely smart guy," he said, adding that Vickers was often seen smiling and had exciting plans for the future. "He has a fiancée, and they were supposed to get married next year."

Vickers grew up in Central Florida with his family and was also a Navy veteran.

"They're obviously very distraught. It's not something you wake up and expect to hear," said Spaulding.

His first duty assignment was Troop K serving Leesburg/Lake County and was later assigned Troop K in Orlando/Orange County.  He was escorted by law enforcement Friday morning, being saluted on the way. 

RELATED: Florida Highway Patrol trooper killed in crash on State Road 408

"He was passionate about the patrol, he took care of his own partners. He did what was needed. Did it willingly, passionately and that did a phenomenal job for us. He will truly be missed."

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and it could take months to determine the cause.  No one else was injured in the crash.