By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

NAPPANEE – A final traffic investigation into the crash that killed four people in Elkhart County, including Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, cites excessive speed from a congressional staffer who was driving.

According to a news release from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, investigators determined the cause of the Aug. 3 crash north of Nappanee was driving left of center with a contributing factor of excessive speed. 

Walorski and two staffers, Zachery Potts, 27; and Emma Thomson, 28, were in a Toyota RAV4 and headed north on SR 19 when it collided with a southbound vehicle. Potts was driving and traveling behind a flatbed truck. 

Evidence from the crash reconstruction showed that the Toyota was traveling 82 mph seconds before the crash and slowed to 77 mph upon impact. 

All of the evidence and information gathered is consistent with someone attempting to pass another vehicle on a two-lane roadway, the news release said.

The airbag control module data also showed that the driver of the Toyota RAV4 steered the vehicle left just prior to the crash. 

According to a witness, the Toyota was 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 point it collided with the southbound Buick driven by Edith Schmucker, 56.

Officials also pointed out that nobody was using phones at the time of the crash.