Motorcycle Officer Escorting Clinton Motorcade Dies

DALLAS (AP) – A police motorcycle officer died after a crash while escorting Hillary 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. 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.

Clinton said she planned to contact the officer’s family as well as the police chief. “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 had been rushed 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.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)