Rep Jackie Walorski of Indiana died in a car crash on Wednesday afternoon
Rep Jackie Walorski of Indiana died in a car crash on Wednesday afternoon (Picture: Getty Images)

A US Congresswoman has died along with three other people in a head-on collision.

Jackie Walorski was in a car with communications director Emma Thomson, 28, and district director Zachery Potts, 27, who both died in the crash.

Their car was heading south in Elkhart County at around 12.30pm yesterday when a car heading in the opposite direction went over the center line.

The driver of that car was Edith Schumucker, 56, from Nappannee, Indiana, and also died at the scene.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted a statement shortly after news of the deaths spread.

He said: ‘Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband, was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s office that Jackie was killed in a car crash this afternoon. She has returned to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. We will have no further comment at this time.’

Walorski, a Republican, represented Indiana’s second district since 2013. The South Bend native was elected to Congress in 2012 and served three terms in the Indiana Statehouse. Walorski was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and McCarthy appointed her to the ranking Republican spot on the House Ethics Committee last year.

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski died in the crash along with her communications director and district director
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski died in the crash along with her communications director and district director

‘I’m honored to take on the important responsibility of holding members of the House to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct,’ Walorski stated at the time.

Walorski also worked as a television news reporter, higher education development director and served as a missionary in Romania.

The crash is being investigated by county police.

Walorski’s colleagues on Capitol Hill grieved over her death.

Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana tweeted he was ‘truly devastated’.

‘Jackie loved Hoosiers and devoted her life to fighting for them. I’ll never forget her spirit, her positive attitude, and most importantly her friendship,’ he wrote.

‘All of Indiana mourns her passing, along with the tragic deaths of her staff Emma Thomson and Zach Potts. Please join me in praying for their families in this difficult time.’

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