Officer in Presidential motorcade killed in crash...
Bush was returning to Air Force One after a private fund-raiser for Sen. Pete Domenici in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. He flew out shortly after the accident.
Bush’s car was behind Casey in the motorcade, and the president saw the scene as he passed, Francis said.
Bush called later to express his condolences to the department and planned to call Casey’s family, Francis said.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, who was in the motorcade, said he went past the scene shortly after the crash and “his heart sank.” White said the motorcade was traveling “pretty fast” at the time of the crash.
– The Albuquerque Tribune 8/27/2007
Rushing from one fundraiser to another “pretty fast”, an officer was killed today, in the line of duty, in a protective motorcade for the President of the United States. “...and the President saw the scene as he passed”.
And “he passed”. Didn’t stop, didn’t spend any time with the family or the police department. He didn’t stop for even a few minutes to reflect on the fact that one more just gave his life in service to him. Would it kill the President to cancel one appointment? To pick up the phone and tell Congressman Reichert he would have to reschedule due to a tragic accident? A man died in direct service to the President, and when he came upon the scene, “he passed”. “He passed”. “He passed”!
