Bellevue officer seriously injured in motorcade accident meets Kamala Harris

Officer Kevin Bereta of the Bellevue Police Department, who was injured during a motorcade for Vice President Kamala Harris in August 2023, had a significant meeting with the vice president on December 6, 2024. The couple received a personal invitation from Harris, allowing them to travel to her residence in Washington, D.C. During the heartfelt exchange, Harris expressed her gratitude for Bereta's service and noted the remarkable progress he had made in his recovery. Bereta, who underwent five surgeries and faced numerous health challenges as a result of the accident, emphasized that meeting Harris was a once-in-a-lifetime honor. He recalled the difficulty of making the trip but felt it was vital to meet her in person. The Bellevue officer was injured while clearing a pedestrian from the road and was subsequently ejected from his motorcycle, leading to severe injuries. In addition to his recovery, the couple is pursuing legal action against the state of Washington, citing negligence related to safety standards that contributed to the incident, believing that inadequate barriers on the overpass where Bereta fell led to his life-threatening injuries.