A procession of hundreds of police cars traveled down Interstate 5 from the Smokey Point rest area to the public memorial service at Comcast Arena in Everett for Washington State Patrol Trooper Sean O’Connell.

The 16-year patrol veteran died in a collision with a truck while directing traffic detoured around the collapsed Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge.

The procession to Comcast Arena in Everett began at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Smokey Point rest area near 188th St. The public memorial service begins at 1 p.m. in Everett.

O’Connell’s brother Francis will speak at the memorial. He tells KING 5 his brother was much more than a Washington State Patrol Trooper.

“He was very personable, very engaging, very compassionate, loved to talk to people. His greatest strength was being able to open up a conversation with somebody who was a complete stranger and connecting with them.”

KIRO Radio’s Brandi Kruse will be reporting live from Comcast Arena in Everett. Check back here and listen to KIRO Radio for updates.

For those that would like to honor O’Connell’s memory with a monetary donation, his family suggests donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.