Indiana representative Jackie Walorksi among the victims of a car crash

Jackie Walorski was the top Republican on the subcommittee on worker and family support. (Photo: AP)

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and two of her staff members were killed after the vehicle they were traveling in hit head-on with a car that strayed into their lane, according to Indiana police and her office.

Walorski, a 58-year-old Republican representing Indiana's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, was eulogized on Wednesday as a dedicated public servant who worked across party lines to serve her constituents.

Elkhart County Sheriff's Office reported that the congresswoman was traveling with her communications director, Emma Thomson, 28, and one of her district directors, Zachery Potts, 27.

The sheriff's office reported, "A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head-on" with Walorski's vehicle, killing all three occupants.

Edith Schmucker, 56, the second vehicle's driver, was pronounced dead at the scene near the northern Indiana town of Nappanee, the report claimed.

"Dean Swihart, Jackie's husband, was informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff's office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon." Walorski's office was confirmed in a statement by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy on Twitter.

They added: "Please keep her family in your prayers and thoughts. We have no other comments at this time."

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According to her official biography, Walorski resided in Indiana her entire life.

She served in the House Ways and Means Committee, ranking Republican on the worker and family support subcommittee.

According to her congressional website, before her election to the House in 2012, Walorski served three terms in the Indiana assembly, spent four years as a missionary in Romania with her husband, and worked as a television news reporter in South Bend.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, a Democrat who once served as mayor of South Bend, remarked on Twitter: "Though we came from very different places politically, she was always prepared to work together where there was common ground."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Walorski "passionately brought the voices of her north Indiana constituents to the Congress, and colleagues admired her on both sides of the aisle for her kindness."

Publish : 2022-08-04 07:09:00

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