Republican Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski, who represented Indiana's 2nd Congressional district, was killed in a car crash Wednesday afternoon. She was 58.
According to Fox News, the fatal crash in Elkhart County, Indiana, involved two cars. Everyone involved was killed.
"On August 3, 2022, at approximately 12:32 PM, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on SR 19 south of SR 119," the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office told Fox News Digital in a statement. "A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head-on with a southbound sports utility vehicle.
"All three occupants in the southbound vehicle died as a result of their injuries: Jackie Walorski, 58, Elkhart, Indiana; Zachery Potts, 27, Mishawaka, Indiana; Emma Thomson, 28, Washington, DC. The sole occupant of the northbound vehicle, Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, Indiana, was pronounced deceased at the scene."
Walorski served three terms in the state's legislature before being elected to represent Indiana's 2nd Congressional District in 2012. She also served on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Potts and Thomson were part of Walorski's staff.
"Dean Swihart, Jackie's husband, was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff's office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon. She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," Walorski's office said in a statement. "Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.
"In addition to the devastating loss of Congresswoman Walorski, it is with a broken heart that I announce the passing of two dedicated members of her staff, Zach Potts and Emma Thomson. They were the epitome of public servants who cared deeply about the work they performed on behalf of the constituents of Indiana's Second Congressional District."
After the news broke, fellow Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks posted a statement on social media calling Walorski a "dear friend and one of the greatest public servants I've ever known."
My full statement on the passing of Jackie Walorski, my dear friend and one of the greatest public servants I’ve ever known: pic.twitter.com/nntvYAqttb
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) August 3, 2022
Drew Hammill, who serves as the spokesperson for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, tweeted that the flags on Capitol Hill will be flown at half-staff in light of Walorski's passing.
Speaker Pelosi has ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff due to the passing of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski of Indiana.
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) August 3, 2022
President Joe Biden also issued a statement on Wednesday.
"We may have represented different parties and disagreed on many issues, but she was respected by members of both parties for her work on the House Ways and Means Committee on which she served," Biden said. "She also served as co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, and my team and I appreciated her partnership as we plan for a historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this fall that will be marked by her deep care for the needs of rural America."
"We send our deepest condolences to her husband, Dean, to the families of her staff members, Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson, who lost their lives in public service, and to the people of Indiana's Second District who lost a representative who was one of their own."
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Alex Wong/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
