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Florida Presidential motorcade officer dies in accident

Posted at 9:41 PM, Sep 09, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-09 21:41:17-04

(CNN) — A police motorcyclist in President Barack Obama’s motorcade died Sunday, September 9th in Florida following a serious highway accident, the top White House spokesman said.

The officer from the Jupiter, Florida, police department was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in nearby West Palm Beach after being injured in the accident.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Sunday night that the officer, whose name was not immediately released, had succumbed to injuries. Obama was notified of the death, according to Carney, who added that the president said his thoughts and prayers were with the officer’s family.

The president did not see the accident from the bus on which he was traveling Sunday, according to Carney.

The crash happened ahead of the president’s motorcade, though few other details were available beyond that no other vehicle from the motorcade was involved, said the White House spokesman.

One station reported that Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, said the officer was about to shut down Interstate 95 by the 45 th Street exit when he was struck by a vehicle.