JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An officer who appeared to be part of the motorcade escorting Vice President Mike Pence was injured in a crash late Thursday afternoon.
Video sent in by a News4Jax viewer shows the officer being put into a rescue unit on Forsythe Street, two blocks from the Prime Osborn Convention Center, just after the political rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis wrapped up at the venue.
Firefighters told News4Jax that the officer was not seriously injured. The officer later posted on social media that he was OK.
A white car was also involved in the crash. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has released no details about how the crash happened or who was at fault.
James Lewis identified the driver of the white car as his wife. He told News4Jax that his wife was talking to him on the phone, using a Bluetooth device, when he heard the crash.
"I thought I heard gunshots. I was, like, 'Man, what's going on?' And then she said, 'A cop car just hit me.' And then that was it," Lewis said.
He said he rushed to the scene immediately after the crash, which he said happened while his wife was taking a detour downtown. He said he was relieved when they reunited.
"I’m really thankful she’s OK," Lewis said. " I ride motorcycles too and I was, like, 'Man, I can’t believe a motorcycle cop.'"
The Sheriff's Office has not named the motorcycle officer.