Officer Down - Dallas motorcade officer

[snlsmith]

Officer killed in Clinton motorcade

Please leave all politics out of this thread as it really has nothing to do with what happened.

DALLAS — A Dallas police officer escorting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's entourage to a rally in Oak Cliff Friday morning lost control of his motorcycle and was killed.

Police identified the officer as Senior Cpl. Victor Lozada, 49, a 20-year veteran of the department.

The accident happened on the Houston Street viaduct around 9:20 a.m. The Kawasaki 1000 Police Special motorcycle apparently hit a concrete abutment.

HD Chopper 8 pilot Troy Bush, who flew over the scene shortly after the incident, estimated that the officer had been thrown about 20 yards by the impact after apparently hitting a railing.

Cpl. Lozada was rushed to nearby Methodist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He had been with the department's traffic division for five years and was also well-known in the East Dallas community for his work at a storefront station on Hall Street.

"The accident is still under investigation, but the motorcycle escorts that we do are very dangerous," said Dallas police Chief David Kunkle. "It is our understanding and belief at this time that it was a single-vehicle accident involving Officer Lozada's motorcycle."

Cpl. Lozada was married with four children — two boys and two girls.

He had been with the department's motorcycle unit for little over a month. This was his second assignment; he also was part of the motorcade for Sen. Barack Obama when he brought his campaign to Dallas earlier this week.

After learning of the accident following her Oak Cliff rally, Sen. Clinton offered her condolences to the victim's family and to the Dallas Police Department, calling it a "tragic, tragic loss."

"We are just heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty," she said. "This reminds us once again of what our men and women in law enfocement do every single day, and it is imprtant that we respect and appreciate their service. I certainly am grateful for all they do for me, and — more importantly — what they do for the citizens of Dallas."

A somber candidate moved to her next scheduled event in downtown Worth at 11:15 a.m., and spoke briefly to supporters about what had happened in Dallas. Clinton left the rally without delivering a stump speech, and said she was going back to Dallas to the hospital where the officer died.

"His wife, obviously, is devastated by his death," Chief Kunkle told reporters. "It's gut-wrenching to be there with her."

The chief said the officer's wife does have a strong support system.

[scottyboy39]

Damn it I hate reading these as im one over here in good ole NYC.Rest in peace for he has taken his final roll call.

[Stryker908]

Cpl. Lozada was married with four children — two boys and two girls.

So sad!

[leaferguy]

My thoughts are with his wife, children, and brothers

Hopefully they can find solace.

[sloth2946]

Here comes RyJ blaming Hillary in 3.....2......1.....

Truly sad.

[goalerjones]

well, if she wasn't there....

[leaferguy]

Take it elsewhere...

[Eis]

This crap happens way to much. From experience I can say that the SS drive like lunatics. I understand the whole getting so and so to point B safely and quickly. However the manner in which they do leads to things like this. Driving Mach 5 when it is a road not suitable for it, etc..

[goalerjones]

a 20 year vet just has an accident like that? Maybe he had a siezure, a heart attack, or a stroke, and then had the accident, but a plain, nothing happened and then he hits a rail? doesn't make sense.

[adavis]

That sucks and what a waste of a police officer.

[Vision]

He was a 20 year veteran of the department but only with the motorcycle detachment for a month. Regardless, it is a sad loss, for all involved.

::m

[Timberwoof]

With the motorcycle detachment for only a month? Is it known how long he had been riding otherwise?

[Codfodder]

I thought the same thing Woof. I expect he has been riding for more than month. That would be a big ride for a newbie. As someone else posted, it may end up being a medical root cause.

[RyJ Maduro]

Thoughts and prayers for Senior Cpl. Lozada and his family.

[Matt The Hammer]

Man, you cycle guys, highways and all are not designed for your survival during an accident.

Sad.

So just be really, really careful.