Obama Motorcade Accident: At Least 2 Police Officers Injured In Florida Incident

WASHINGTON — Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening.

The Miami Police Department said Sgt. Rufus Devane III, 42, and Sgt. Santiago Cruz, 49, were traveling on Interstate 95 when they were involved in a crash while approaching an onramp. A preliminary investigation indicated an abandoned vehicle on the shoulder of the road may have contributed to the crash, though the investigation is not complete, police said.

The two officers were brought to a local hospital, where tests were under way to determine the severity of their injuries, police said. Both officers have been with the department for about two decades.

Obama's motorcade was returning to Miami's international airport after two Democratic fundraisers the president held Wednesday evening in Miami Beach, Fla. Obama's itinerary wasn't affected. Obama left Miami on a return flight to Washington ahead of schedule.

The White House and U.S. Secret Service had no immediate comment.

This isn't the first time Obama's motorcade has been involved in an accident in Florida. In September 2012, Bruce St. Laurent of the Jupiter, Fla. police department was struck and killed by a pickup truck in West Palm Beach, Fla., where Obama was traveling for a campaign stop.

White House Hosts 'Memphis Soul' Concert

President Barack Obama hosted a night of "Memphis soul" music at the White House on Tuesday, where he welcomed a slew of A-list performers.

Obama opened the evening's festivities by asking, "Let's face it, who does not love this music?"

"Memphis soul," as its known, is described as a mix of soul, gospel and blues. Obama said the unique blend of musical styles created in segregated Tennessee in the 1960s was special because it "played an important part in our history." He also noted the music sought to bridge racial divides and "create a little harmony with harmony."

The president, along with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha, welcomed singers Ben Harper, Booker T. Jones, Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah and Cyndi Lauper, among others.

The event marked the 10th concert for the "In Performance at the White House" series.

Prior to the concert, the first lady and several performers conducted a workshop with students from various schools and organizations. She explained to the students that she played the piano when she was young and wished she had stuck with it. She also noted that studying music is beneficial for many reasons.

"The discipline, the patience, the diligence I learned through the study of music, those are all skills that I apply every single day in my life," she said. "I applied them as a student, as a lawyer, as a first lady, and definitely as a mother."