Tim Walz rides on as motorcade crashes in pile-up, leaving staffer injured
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz continued on after his motorcade crashed in a several-car pile up that injured a staffer Monday on their way to a campaign stop for Vice President Kamala Harris in Milwaukee, Wisc.
The motorcade crashed at 1:57 p.m. ET, when several press vans in the line up slammed into each other.
Walz, who was toward the front of the motorcade, was unaffected and kept going, according to reporters who were in the vans.
“A staff member in our press van appears to have a broken arm and is being treated by medics. Everyone else is shaken but appears to be in okay condition. We were violently thrown forward, as our van slammed into the one in front of us and was hit from behind,” New York Times reporter Jazmine Ulloa wrote in her pool report.
The press is usually located at the back of the motorcade in special vans. Roads are typically shut down when motorcades drive past so cars cannot enter ongoing traffic.
The motorcade was delayed for about an hour as emergency responders handled the crash.
“We are still unclear on what caused the crash. A woman in a BMW appears to have been stopped on a road that should have been cleared for the motorcade,” Ulloa wrote, noting that the press was loaded into new vans and started rolling again around 2:50 p.m.
“The staffer who was injured was part of traveling pool staff, per the campaign,” she added.
Walz later addressed the crash at the top of his remarks in Milwaukee.
“Some of you might have heard some of my staff and members of the press that were traveling with us were involved in a traffic accident on the way here today,” Walz said. “We’ve spoken with the staff. I’m relieved to say that with a few minor injuries, everyone is going to be OK.”
Harris and President Biden called Walz after the crash to check up on him, the vice president’s campaign said.
“The Vice President has been briefed on the collision involving Gov. Walz’ motorcade and her staff will continue to update her throughout the day. The Vice President spoke with Gov. Walz prior to takeoff from Detroit to check on him and the staff,” the White House official said.
