JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officer died early Friday morning after his motorcycle hit two cars that had crashed on J. Turner Butler Boulevard, just east of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Jacksonville Beach police, who responded to the accident at 1:10 a.m., said Jerry Beckmeyer Jr., 32, died of massive head injuries.

According to police, two cars crashed on the overpass over South Beach Parkway. Beckmeyer was off duty riding his personal motorcycle with a woman passenger when he came upon the wreckage in the 800 block of Butler Boulevard. The bike went into a skid, and both were thrown from the vehicle.

Beckmeyer and his passenger were taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center. Beckmeyer died. The woman, whose injuries were described as serious, was in stable condition.

A second motorcyclist and passenger riding with Beckmeyer were able to avoid the wreckage and were not hurt.

Investigators said Beckmeyer was not wearing a helmet. They are still looking into what caused the initial crash.

"These type of calls and crashes the officers respond to are very hard on them -- and even more so when they respond to one that's one of their own," Jacksonville Beach police Sgt. Thomas Bingham told Channel 4's Virginia Warren.

Beckmeyer had been with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office since April 1998. He was a traffic officer who told co-workers it was his goal to be a motorcycle cop. He had learned just last week he was approved to become a "motor officer."

Flags at the Police Memorial Building were lowered to half-staff, and officers wore a black stripe across their badges in honor of Beckmeyer. There was a moment of silence for him at Friday's 6 p.m. roll call, which would have marked the beginning of his next shift.

"He was enthusiastic and energetic and enjoyed his job and liked being out there," Chief Dwain Senterfitt said. "He was just the kind of police officer that you wanted out there on the street."

Police said Beckmeyer leaves behind a wife, who is three months pregnant, and a 5-year-old daughter.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Donations for Beckmeyer's family are being accepted at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge at 5530 Beach Blvd.