More than shootings, stabbings and any other incident involving law enforcement, automobile-related accidents were the leading cause of death for police officers over the past decade.The danger of automobile accidents comes to light after a McMinnville police officer was briefly hospitalized after losing control and crashing through a utility pole last week on Spring Street while responding to a call.“It can be a tough situation, particularly with young officers, because when you get a call you want to get there as fast as you can to save the day,” said McMinnville Police Chief Bryan Denton. “One thing we’ve said around here for a long time is if you don’t get there at all, you’re not going to help anybody.”According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, more on-duty officers died in the decade from 2001-2010 as a result of automobile-related accidents than any other cause. That includes 469 killed in automobile crashes and another 153 who were struck by a vehicle for a total of 622 deaths.Death from a gunshot wound was next with 572 officers killed.Locally, Denton says McMinnville Police Department has been fortunate to avoid serious vehicle accidents.