Elkhart Co. Sheriff's Office Releases Final Information On Aug. 3 Crash That Killed 4
Elkhart Co. Sheriff's Office Releases Final Information On Aug. 3 Crash That Killed 4
Posted
David L. Slone-
Elkhart Co. Sheriff's Office Releases Final Information On Aug. 3 Crash That Killed 4ELKHART - The cause of the Aug. 3 crash on Ind. 19, south of CR 44 in Elkhart County, that killed four people including U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, was “driving left of center” with a contributing factor of excessive speed.
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office released its final update on the crash Friday, which also states that the at-fault vehicle was the Toyota RAV4 driven by Zachery Potts, 27, of Mishawaka, one of Walorski’s staff members.
Killed in the crash were Walorski, 58, Elkhart; Potts; Emma Thomson, 28, Washington, D.C., another one of Walorski’s staff members; and Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, the driver of the second vehicle, a maroon Buick LeSabre.
Causes of death for all four people also were provided Friday by Elkhart County Coroner Mervin D. Miller and were listed as accidental due to the automobile crash.
According to the ECSO final update, “It was concluded that the Toyota RAV4 was northbound on Ind. 19, south of CR 44, traveling behind a flat-bed truck. The witness was traveling northbound behind both the Toyota RAV4 and the unidentified truck. The Toyota was observed slowing, as what was described as creating distance between the truck and the Toyota. The Toyota was then observed accelerating to a high rate of speed, closing the distance to the unidentified truck. As the Toyota neared the rear of the truck, it swerved into the southbound lane at which it collided with the southbound Buick driven by Edith Schmucker.”
Evidence from the crash reconstruction, the release states, including detailed data from the airbag control module (often referred to as the “black box”), showed that the Toyota was traveling at a speed of 82 mph, give or take 4%, approximately 5 seconds prior to the crash. In addition, it showed that the vehicle’s motor was at idle speed, showing that the vehicle was “coasting,” with speed reducing to 77 mph, give or take 4%, milliseconds prior to airbag deployment.
The airbag control module data also showed that Potts steered the vehicle left just prior to the crash. The amount of steering input was consistent with normal operation of the vehicle and was consistent with the eyewitness account.
All cell phone information was examined from all occupants of both vehicles. There is no evidence or information that phones were being used prior to or during the crash, the release states.
Inspections of the vehicles were conducted. The inspections and evidence at the scene showed no indication of mechanical failures, according to the release.
All of the evidence and information gathered is consistent with someone attempting to pass another vehicle on a two-lane roadway.
The Sheriff’s Office consulted with the Indiana State Police for an independent review of the collected information and conclusions prior to this release; the conclusions being consistent with ECSO, the release concludes.
A Republican caucus selected Rudy Yakym, an executive with Elkhart distribution company Kem Krest and a longtime political ally of Walorski, to replace her on the November election ballot for U.S. House of Representatives District 2. The district's congressional seat will remain vacant until a special election on the November ballot to complete Walorski's term through rest of this year.
Yakym will face Democrat Paul Steury and Libertarian William Henry.
