Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

From the Associated Press
updated 11:50 a.m. CT, Fri., Feb. 22, 2008

DALLAS - A police motorcycle officer died after a crash while escorting Hillary Rodham Clinton's motorcade to a campaign rally.

"We are just heartsick at this loss of life in the line of duty," a subdued Clinton said in a statement to reporters after the rally. Clinton cut short her next appearance in Fort Worth, Texas, so she could visit the officer's family.

The officer died after apparently crashing into a concrete barrier along a viaduct near downtown Dallas. Aerial video showed wreckage scattered for several yards and emergency medical technicians laboring to treat the officer.


Dallas police spokesman Sgt. Gil Cerda said he had no details on the crash, which happened shortly after 9 a.m.

The New York senator and Democratic presidential candidate also said she planned to contact the police chief to express her sympathy.

"It is important that we respect and appreciate their service," she said. "I certainly am grateful for all they do for me."

After the wreck, the victim was taken to nearby Methodist Medical Center, where Police Chief David Kunkle was seen arriving shortly afterward.

The name of the officer was not released.

In August 2006, an Albuquerque, N.M., police officer in President Bush's motorcade died in a motorcycle crash. Germaine Casey, 40, died on Aug. 27 when he crashed as Bush returned to the airport after a fundraiser for Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.

In November 2006, Honolulu police Officer Steve Favela died when he and two other motorcycle officers crashed while part of a presidential motorcade.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

WOW! So sad!

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

This is very sad. Over the past year or so there has been a rash of motorcycle cops dying in motorcades.

One died in Hawaii escorting President Bush's motorcade and then the same thing happened in his motorcade in some other state in the past year.

It makes me wonder if they are not going too fast in these motorcades for motorcycles to safely take the curves?

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

A chimney sweep friend of mine recently lost a leg in a motocycle crash.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

Yikes! That would make his job quite difficult I would imagine. A couple of times I have been day dreaming and found myself going too fast for the curve I was about to enter.

Thank the Lord I have not gone down but my heart has sure been racing a couple of times by the time I got through the curve.

In my MSF safety class they said the number one cause of one vehicle motorcycle accidents was taking a curve too fast.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

Let's lift this family and every candidate's staff up in prayer. They're doing a lot of traveling and anything could happen.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

I agree about the family but asking me to pray for Hillary and her followers is going to take all of my Christian virtue!

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

:)

Oh to be like Jesus.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

If it's any consolation, most likely not everyone in her motorcade is a supporter... they are probably assigned those tasks. :)

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

Yup. The former Fire Marshall of Berkely Ca called Rush today and told about how he was asked to be at an event with Hillary in his official capacity to insure all the fire codes were followed. He had on a suit and some sort of guest badge the secret service gave him so he looked a lot like the Secret Service guys. He thinks she thought he was on of them because in front of him she was cursing "worse than a drunken sailor". She is known for doing this but usually is careful to only do it out of the public view.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

I sat and just about cried while watching the new tonight.

Officer Lozada left a wife and four children. 2 in college, one teenager and a 10 year old.

He coahed his youngest son's soccer team.

His fellow officers (by the dozens) lined the streets at the hospital as he was brought in.

Just so very sad.

Hillary Clinton canceled a rally this evening to make a visit to the grieveing family..... no cameras, no media, just a private time with the family. That is a very classy thing for her to do.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

Amen

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

Amen.

Re: Clinton Motorcade Officer Dies in Crash
 

I am watching the family news conference and I have to say I have never seen a family I have been more impressed with and how they handle this publicly. Yes I know the public show is not what is really happening in their lives but WOW... this is one first class family!