Washington — Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana was killed in a car crash Wednesday, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Jeff Siegel said Walorski, 58, was in a SUV traveling southbound when it was hit head-on by another car just after 12:30 p.m. All three occupants in one of the cars — Walorski, her district director Zachery Potts, 27, and communications director Emma Thomson, 28 — died as a result of their injuries.
The sole passenger of the other car involved in the crash, which was traveling northbound, also was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Siegel.
An investigation by the Elkhart County Coroner’s Office and sheriff’s office is underway. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol to fly at half-staff, her spokesman, Drew Hammill, said.
Walorski was elected to represent Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes South Bend, in 2012 after serving three terms in the statehouse. She was the top Republican on the House Ethics Committee and served on the Ways and Means Committee.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed Walorski’s death in a tweeted statement from her office, noting that her husband, Dean Swihart, was informed the congresswoman had been killed in the collision.
“She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” McCarthy said. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Indiana Sen. Mike Braun told reporters, “I just learned about an hour or so ago. It’s one of those things that takes the absolute air out of you. I was on the phone and a text came through. Spent a lot of time with Jackie. Got to know her early when I stuck my neck into the political realm.” He said she was “always a good friend,” and added, “when it’s close to home, and you know the people, it’s tough to get through.”
Tributes for Walorski quickly poured in from elected officials on both sides of the aisle and members of Indiana’s congressional delegation.
Rep. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the Ways and Means panel, said the congresswoman was “the ‘happy Hoosier’ who would light up a room with her joy, passion, brilliance and love of life.”
“There is nothing [Walorski] couldn’t do,” he tweeted.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York, said on Twitter she is “absolutely heartbroken,” and “my heart goes out to the families of each of the victims,” while fellow Indiana Rep. Jim Banks praised Walorski as a “true public servant — selfless, humble, and compassionate.”
“From my first day in Congress, Jackie showed me kindness and grace,” he said in a statement. “She had a heart of gold, and I will miss her dearly.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who also represented Indiana in the House before serving as governor, said he and his wife are praying for Walorski’s family, and the families of Potts and Thomson.
“She served Indiana in the statehouse and the Congress with integrity and principle for nearly two decades and will be deeply missed,” he said in a pair of tweets.
Indiana Sen. Todd Young tweeted that he is “truly devastated” by Walorski’s death and said she “loved Hoosiers and devoted her life to fighting for them. I’ll never forget her spirit, her positive attitude, and most importantly her friendship.
