Washington — Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski was killed in a car crash Wednesday, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office said. Sheriff Jeff Siegel said Walorski, 58, was in an SUV traveling south when she was struck head-on by another car just after 12:30 p.m. All three occupants of one of the cars — Walorski, area manager Zachery Potts, 27, and communications manager Emma Thompson, 28 — died as a result of their injuries. The sole occupant of the other car involved in the crash, which was traveling northbound, was also pronounced dead at the scene, according to Siegel. An investigation by the Coroner’s Office and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the US Capitol to fly at half-staff, her spokesman, Drew Hamill, said. Walorski was elected to represent Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes South Bend, in 2012 after serving three terms in the state. 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 statement via Twitter from her office, noting that her husband, Dean Swihart, had been told the congresswoman had been killed in the crash. It is with a heavy heart that I share this statement from the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. pic.twitter.com/UEPoKBDf5N — Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) August 3, 2022 “She came home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” McCarthy said. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.” 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, sparkle and love of life.” “There is nothing [Walorski] i couldn’t,” he tweeted. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, said on Twitter that she was “absolutely devastated” 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 has shown me kindness and grace,” he said in a statement. “He had a heart of gold and I will miss him 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 State and in 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 was “truly devastated” by Walorski’s death and said she “loved Hoosiers and dedicated her life to fighting for them. I will never forget her spirit, her positive attitude and especially her friendship”.
