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Who was Edith Schmucker? Jackie Walorski's SUV rammed into Indiana senior care aide, 56, in fatal crash

Initially, police said the car driven by Schmucker traveled left of center and collided with Walorski's SUV but a day later, evidence states otherwise

Update: Initial reports mentioned that an oncoming car driven by Edith Schmucker traveled left of center and crashed into the car carrying Indian Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. However, new developments in the case revealed by WNDU have stated that a silver Toyota RAV 4, driven by Zachery Potts, 27, of Mishawaka—district director for Walorski crashed into Schmucker's car. A day after the crash, police are saying the information from the preliminary investigation as to the direction of travel of the vehicles was incorrect.

Eyewitness and video evidence both seem to confirm that Schmucker's Buick LeSabre was southbound on State Road 19 south of State Road 119 and the Toyota, driven by Potts was northbound on State Road 19 when Potts' car crossed the center line for reasons that are unknown at this time and the two vehicles collided. The police mentioned that all occupants of both vehicles were confirmed to have been wearing seatbelts and airbags did deploy.

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Indiana congresswoman Jackie Walorski was involved in a fatal car accident on Wednesday afternoon, August 3. There were no survivors and the extent of their injuries was not disclosed yet. The incident took place around 12.32 pm on SR 19 south of SR 119. Walorski was 58 years old and only two weeks shy of her 59th birthday.

Elkhart County Sheriff's Office confirmed the victims of the two-vehicle crash were Walorski, 58, Elkhart, Indiana; Zachery Potts, 27, Mishawaka, Indiana; Emma Thomson, 28, Washington, DC. Thomson was Walorski's communications director and Potts previously held the position of Walorski's campaign manager before jumping up to the position of the district director in Indiana for the House of Representatives. The driver of the vehicle that rammed into Walorski's car, identified as Edith Schmucker, was also announced dead by the officials. The police explained that the vehicle driven by Schmucker traveled left of center and collided head-on with a southbound sports utility vehicle, causing the fatal Indiana crash which left four people dead in total. However, the reason why her vehicle drifted in the wrong direction was not explained.

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Who was Edith Schmucker?

Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, Indiana, was driving the vehicle that collided with Warloski's car. She was a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) at Millers Senior Living Community located at Clearvista Pl, Indianapolis. and a Warsaw native. She attended Warsaw High School and graduated in 1985. She kept her relationship status as 'Single' on Facebook. While her status reads 'Single', she has added Tyler Lee Schmucker and Mikel D Renze as her sons on Facebook.  

People who knew Schmucker wrote that she would do anything for anyone and had a big heart. Edith Schmucker's niece Tamra Schmucker wrote, "I learned from you as a kid and how you always would run your fingers through my hair every time you saw me and tell me how much you loved me. Until we meet again." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy first broke the news of Walorski's death and tweeted, "It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing this statement from the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski." He continued, "This news is absolutely devastating. Jackie was a dear friend, trusted advisor, and the embodiment of integrity who achieved the admiration and respect of all her colleagues in the House. She always put others first. My full statement (continues)"