Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s director of communications has been killed in a motorcycle accident.

Mario Laguí« died this morning (August 12) after his motorcycle collided with an SUV in Ottawa.

According to news reports, the former Canadian ambassador to Costa Rica was pronounced dead at the scene.

Laguí«, who had also served as communications director for former prime minister Paul Martin, was 52 years old.

Today, Ignatieff issued the following statement:

It is with great sadness that we learned this morning that our Director of Communications, Mario Laguí«, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Ottawa.

A man of many talents and accomplishments, Mario was a beloved member of our staff, and a valued personal advisor to me and the entire Liberal team. A man of great integrity and spirit, Mario served his country in many capacities with honour and dignity. Whether as a public servant under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, Ambassador to Costa Rica or in his most cherished role as a husband and father, Mario brought a bright light to everything he did.

While we will miss Mario’s extensive talents, we will miss most of all his warmth, his humour, and his passion for Canada that inspired us all.

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, loved ones and the many, many friends and colleagues that knew him.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.