Killed While Escorting Hillary Clinton

Clinton Cancels Fort Worth Campaign Rally Following Officer's Death

DALLAS, Texas (CBS) ― A Dallas police motorcycle officer crashed and was killed Friday while escorting the Hillary Clinton motorcade to a campaign rally, CBS station KTVT-TV in Dallas reports.

Senior Corporal Victor Lozada, a 20-year veteran of the department, was apparently rounding a curve on the Houston Street viaduct when he hit a curb and crashed his motorcycle. No other motorcycles, or vehicles participating in the motorcade, were involved in the accident.

Sources say the 49-year-old Corporal had been in the traffic division since 2003, but was relatively new to the motorcycle division. Lozada was taken to Methodist Central Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A KTVT chopper was over the scene and showed emergency medical technicians working trying to save the officer. The crash happened between Oak Cliff and downtown Dallas.

Senator Clinton was told about the deadly crash shortly after her Dallas campaign stop ended. Speaking soon afterwards, Clinton said, "We are just heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty. I have asked that my condolences be conveyed to the family. I am going to call the family, and I have placed a call to the chief of police expressing my sympathy."

KTVT's Steve Pickett, who attended the Dallas rally, said that even after Senator Clinton commented about the officer's death, most people in the crowd seemed to have no idea that the wreck had occurred.

Clinton was scheduled to attend a rally in Fort Worth after the Dallas event. She went to Fort Worth and spoke to supporters while standing in front of the Tarrant County courthouse. There she told the crowd that she was canceling the rally because of the death of Corporal Lozada.

Following the announcement in Fort Worth, Clinton went back to Dallas to visit Lozada's widow and family at Methodist Hospital.

The Clinton campaign later released a statement that said, in part, "This reminds us, once again, what our men and women in law enforcement do every single day and it is important that we respect and appreciate their service."

Corporal Lozada had four children, two of whom are in college. Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said Lozada was a very family-oriented man and was the soccer coach for his 10-year-old son's team.

According to the chief, Lozada had only been with the motorcycle unit for a little more than a month. This was only the second time he had participated in a police motorcade; the first was for the Barack Obama campaign rally at Reunion Arena on Thursday.


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