Nappanee neighbors say high speeds are nothing new on State Road 19

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. – A new report from the Elkhart Sheriff reveals high speeds were a big factor in the crash that killed Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, her staffers Zachary Potts and Emma Thompson, and Nappanee resident Edith Schmucker.

New details in the crash investigation reveal the driver, Potts, was driving north when he attempted to pass a truck, going 82 miles per hour on SR-19, which has a speed limit of 55 m.p.h.

That’s when he hit 56-year-old Edith Schmucker, who had just come off the large roundabout heading south.

Nappanee resident Kate Mounsithirha lives right off SR-19.

“Turning into my driveway, I’ve almost been rear-ended a few times, because I don’t think people are paying attention,” she said.

She said she had seen one of the victims the same day as the tragedy.

“That was so shocking,” she said. “I had seen her, Edith Schmucker had come into the place that I work, just a few hours before the accident.”

She said the speeding on that road is nothing new.

“This road is prone to accidents, just because of how fast everyone’s going,” she said. “If you’re not going like 10 over the speed limit, you’re getting passed, for sure.”

She also said she hopes this tragedy can be a wake-up call to other drivers.

“Putting everyone else in danger, it’s just unfair and it’s just not worth the risk at all,” she said.