Web posted Saturday, December 8, 2001

Cheney's Protection Involved In Accidents

By JOE KAFKA Associated Press Writer

PIERRE -- Although Vice President Dick Cheney had good luck hunting pheasants during his recent stay at a Sully County lodge, the Secret Service didn't fare as well when it came to driving on nearby gravel roads.

Two Secret Service agents were in accidents -- one involving the rollover of a large sport utility vehicle. The vice president was not riding with either of the agents, who were apparently on routine patrol.

Both accidents occurred Nov. 5 in Sully County.

The first involved George Purefoy, 34, a Secret Service agent from Falls Church, Va., who was going about 45 mph when he lost control of a rented 2001 Ford Excursion.

''He went for a heck of a ride,'' said Sgt. Dave Driscoll of the South Dakota Highway Patrol. ''He was pretty well dazed, and the vehicle was totally demolished.''

Purefoy lost control at a jog in the gravel road, Driscoll said. ''There wasn't anything that the Secret Service agent was doing wrong. It could have happened to anybody. It was nothing that hasn't happened to umpteenth people on a gravel road.

''It flipped over twice and landed on its wheels. Fortunately, he had his seat belt on, and it certainly saved him from serious injury or death.''

Purefoy suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Pierre hospital, Driscoll said.

The accident report, filed by trooper Dave Price of Mobridge, listed the vehicle loss at $38,000.

Rachel Klay, 43, Secret Service resident agent in Sioux Falls, was involved in the other accident but was not injured. She was driving a rented 2000 Chevrolet Blazer that was rear-ended by a pickup driven by Ellis Millar, 56, of Onida.

Driscoll said the accident took place after dark. He said Klay had driven into Millar's farmyard, and her vehicle was struck after she turned around to leave.

Millar, apparently curious, followed Klay out of the farmyard but was unable to stop when she pulled over to the side of the road to see if he wanted to talk with her.

''The road was real dusty. You couldn't see anything,'' Driscoll said. ''Mr. Millar's vision was obscured. He tried to stop but just slid into the back of the agent's vehicle. He said he thought he could have swerved around her, but he was afraid somebody might be getting out of the driver's door and he didn't want to possibly hit them.''

Damage to the rented Secret Service vehicle was listed at $4,000; damage to Millar's pickup was estimated at $700.

Driscoll, who lives in Pierre and likes to hunt, said he spoke with Cheney at one point to see how he was doing.

''The vice president said they had a real good hunt,'' Driscoll said.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Answers

bada bing, bada bang.

I guess the ability to drive isn't a prerequsite for being a secret service agent...

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Next time they'd better rent their vehicles from Rent-A-Wreck.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Rachel Klay, 43, Secret Service resident agent in Sioux Fall....

This is also the same female SSA that got her gun and badge stolen here in the Chicagoland area a few years ago at some bar during a stake out when she left her purse unattended... Guess she just has some bad luck... LOL

Kath

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

LOL--I suppose her assignment to Sioux Falls had something to do with that incident. I don't know if there are any assignments that would be lower than South Dakota...

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Ok, I guess there's always North Dakota...but if she can't drive a 4X4 better than that, she's in deep doo-doo.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001