The SUV carrying U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski crossed the center line of an Indiana highway Wednesday, sparking a head-on collision that killed the representative and three others, according to new information from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office.
The law enforcement agency initially told reporters that the second vehicle, driven by Edith Schmucker, 56, of Napanee, Ind., crossed the center line and caused the collision.
“Information from the preliminary investigation of the scene regarding the direction of travel of the vehicles is not correct,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Thursday.
Walorski, 58, was riding in a Toyota Rav 4 driven by St. Joseph County GOP Chairman Zachery Potts, 27, when the SUV “crossed the center line for unknown reasons,” the sheriff’s office said.
Congressman Jackie Walorski was one of four people killed in the crash on the Indiana highway. J. Scott Applewhite – Poole via C. A head-on collision between two cars killed all involved, including US House Representative Jackie Walorski. WSBT-TV Walorski Press Secretary Emma Thomson, left, and St. Joseph County Republican Party Chairman Zachery Potts were also in the car with Walorski when she crashed. Emma Thomson/Linkedin; ZacheryPo
The agency’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 the airbags were deployed in both vehicles, police said.
The incident remains under investigation.
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