The SUV carrying U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski crossed the center line of an Indiana highway Wednesday, causing a head-on collision that killed the representative and three other people, according to new information from the U.S. Attorney’s office. Elkhart County Sheriff.
The police agency had initially told reporters that the second vehicle, driven by Edith Schmucker, 56, of Nappanee, Ind., had crossed the center line and caused the collision.
“Information from the preliminary investigation at the scene, regarding the direction of travel of the vehicles, was not correct,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
Walorski, 58, was riding in a Toyota Rav 4 driven by the chairman of the St. Louis County Republican Party. Joseph, Zachery Potts, 27, when the SUV “crossed the center line for unknown reasons,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputy Jackie Walorski was one of four people killed in the Indiana highway collision. J. Scott Applewhite – Pool via C The head-on collision involving two cars killed all involved, including US House Representative Jackie Walorski. WSBT-TV Walorski Press Secretary Emma Thomson, left, and St. Louis County Republican Party Chairman Joseph, Zachery Potts was also in the car with Walorski when it crashed. Emma Thomson/Linkedin; ZacheryPo
The representative’s press secretary, Emma Thomson, 28, was also a passenger in the SUV.
The Toyota hit Schmucker’s Buick LeSabre head-on.
Walorski, Schmucker, Potts and Thomson died as a result of the crash.
All four were wearing seat belts and airbags deployed in both vehicles, police said.
The incident remains under investigation.