Alameda County deputy dies after being struck by vehicle
DUBLIN, Calif. (KTVU) -- A veteran Alameda County sheriff's deputy died Thursday, one day after he was struck by a transportation vehicle at the Santa Rita Jail, authorities.
Deputy Mike Foley, 60, had been listed in critical condition after the incident, which occurred Wednesday morning about 6 a.m. at the transportation yard behind the jail, which is located near Broder Boulevard. Foley had worked for the Alameda sheriff for eight years but had previously worked for Concord police for 30 years.
MORE COVERAGE
The deputy was rushed after the incident to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
The driver of the sheriff's vehicle, also a deputy, was expected to be placed on administrative leave because the deputy was said to have been shaken up by the accident.
The deputy who struck Foley is "devastated" by what happened and "feels tremendous pain," Kelly said. "We are really hurting right now."
Authorities said Deputy Foley was walking through the jail parking lot when he was struck by an inmate transportation bus. The bus was not transporting any inmates at the time of the accident, officials said.
It was dark at the time of the accident and apparently the deputy who was driving the bus didn't see Foley, who's assigned to the transportation unit, and Foley didn't see the bus, which was traveling at about 15 mph, Sgt. Ray Kelly said.
The inmate bus was in the process of going to the jail's kitchen area to get prepared lunches for inmates who were going to be transported to a courthouse in Oakland for court appearances later in the morning, Kelly said.
Inmates were going to get on the bus after the food was loaded, he said.
According to a statement from the sheriff's office, "Michael was one of the hardest working deputies on this agency. He used his experience and wisdom to mentor countless numbers of young officers throughout his career. He was an extremely kind man who loved his family, friends, co-workers and community."
Concord Police Association released a statement on Thursday that said Foley would be missed. They added, "The support that his direct family, and the Thin Blue Line family have received from so many different places has been simply amazing. John Muir Hospital staff has also really gone out of their way to make the family feel very supported."
We have learned that Foley's organs will be donated.
California Highway Patrol officers were expected to recreate the scene of the accident sometime this week.
Bay City News contributed to this report.