Friday, February 22, 2008

Officer in Clinton's motorcade dies

(CNN) – An officer involved in Hillary Clinton's motorcade in Dallas, Texas was killed in a motorcycle crash Friday, the New York senator confirmed.

Clinton released a statement saying she is “greatly heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty.”

The officer was thrown at least 30-40 feet in the accident, which occurred on the Trinity River Viaduct as Clinton's motorcade made its way through downtown Dallas.

The Dallas police department has not yet confirmed the death, or released the identity of the officer.

“I want to express my deepest condolences to the family and the Dallas police department on this tragic, tragic loss," said Clinton.

She added that she had called the Dallas Police chief, and would call the family at an appropriate time, and was grateful for the police department's service.

"I am certainly grateful for all they do for me and more importantly what they do for the citizens of cities like Dallas,” she said.

There have been two fatal accidents involving motorcycle officers escorting President Bush’s motorcade over the past 18 months.

On August 28, an officer from Rio Rancho, New Mexico died when his motorcycle crashed as the motorcade approached the airport in Albuquerque. The officer, Germaine Casey, was 40. He was the lead motorcycle in the motorcade when the crash occurred.

On November 23, 2006, a Honolulu Police motorcycle officer crashed on wet roads during the President’s motorcade in Hawaii…he died of his injuries a week later. Two other officers injured in the crash were released from the hospital. Steve Favella was 30.

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