Indiana Representative Jackie Walorski Dies in Car Crash
The Republican congresswoman and two staff members were killed in a head-on collision in northern Indiana.
The accident happened around 12:30 in the afternoon on a state highway. Police said a car crossed the center line and crashed into the SUV that Walorski was riding in. The woman driving the other car also died in the crash. The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office is still investigating what caused the accident.
The two staff members who died were Zachery Potts, 27, and Emma Thomson, 28. Potts was Walorski's district director and also worked as a Republican party leader in St. Joseph County. Thomson worked as Walorski's communications director. Both were valued members of her team who helped her serve the people of Indiana.
Walorski had served in the U.S. House of Representatives for almost ten years. She represented Indiana's 2nd Congressional District, which is in the northern part of the state. Before becoming a congresswoman, she worked for six years in Indiana's state government. She was running for reelection this year and was expected to win easily.
Before entering politics, Walorski had an interesting background. She worked as a television news reporter in South Bend, Indiana. She and her husband Dean also served as Christian missionaries in Romania. There, they started a foundation that helped poor children by providing food and medical supplies.
She passionately brought the voices of her north Indiana constituents to the Congress, and she was admired by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for her personal kindness.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How long had Jackie Walorski served in the U.S. House of Representatives?
2. What time did the car crash happen?
3. Which congressional district did Walorski represent?