CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Chicopee Police Department is mourning the loss of an officer who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Connecticut Tuesday afternoon.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Chief William Jebb said Officer Angela Santiago was killed in an accident in East Windsor on Tuesday. Santiago and her twin sister were riding separate motorcycles on I-91 southbound through Connecticut at the time of the accident.

She has been with the department since 2014. On Tuesday night, a small memorial of flowers was laid on a cruiser at the Chicopee Police Department. The cause of the crash is still being determined.

Santiago was a five-star veteran of the department and was stationed as a school resource officer at the Chicopee Police Department. Chief Jebb briefly reflected on her presence in the department, speaking of her infectious smile and impact on her community.

“It’s a great loss to our law enforcement community and it’s a great loss to the schools. In the time she has been there, I’ve heard nothing but good things from some of the parents…it’s a void that is going to be difficult to replace in the department. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”

Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb

Prior to her time with Chicopee Police, Santiago served in the U.S. Army.

Chief Jebb said he sent the Chicopee Accident Reconstruction Team to assist with the investigation if needed.

You can watch the city’s news conference below:

Chicopee’s mayor, along with other police departments across western Massachusetts shared their condolences on social media: