Retired firefighter dies in motorcycle accident

MIAMI SPRINGS, Fla. (WSVN) -- A retired South Florida firefighter who crashed his motorcycle and fell off an overpass has died.

The incident occurred Thursday at 9:15 p.m. Authorities said, former Miami-Dade Firefighter Clyde Porter was traveling eastbound on Northwest 36th Street near the on-ramp to State Road 112.

Florida Highway Patrol said he lost control of his motorcycle, crashed and fell 20 to 30 feet off the overpass, landing in the northbound lanes of LeJeune Road.

Rescue crews transported him to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Reverend Gaston Smith of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church said, "The wife is grieving, naturally, and we are grieving with her, as well as the children; they are devastated by this, and this is a surprise for all of us. We had much love for Clyde."

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said Porter was a 32-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Fire Department who retired about five years ago. He was also an instructor at Miami-Dade College Firefighter Academy.

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