Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 80, Hospitalized After Hit-and-Run in Toledo, Driver Fled Scene

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress, was hospitalized Sunday after a two-vehicle crash in Toledo, Ohio, according to her office and Toledo police.

The 80-year-old Democrat was a passenger in the vehicle, on her way to a church service, when it was struck, her office said. Toledo police told local outlets, including CBS affiliate WTOL 11, that officers responded to the area of Detroit Avenue and Central Avenue for a "hit-skip crash" just before 11 a.m. local time.

Two people, including Kaptur, were taken to the hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening, police said. A witness told WTOL 11 that the other driver was picked up by another vehicle and fled the scene shortly after the crash.

"She is active, alert, and being treated for non-life threatening injuries," Kaptur's office said in a statement to CBS News. The statement added that the congresswoman "expressed her deep gratitude to the hundreds of constituents who have reached out and looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon."

Toledo police said the investigation "remains active and ongoing" and that accident investigators responded to the scene. No details about the fleeing driver, including a description of the vehicle or any charges, have been released. Police have not said whether the other driver has been identified.

Bipartisan Reaction

Well-wishes for Kaptur came from both parties. Kathleen Clyde, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, wrote on social media that she was "sending love and well wishes for a speedy recovery" and thanked first responders who helped everyone involved get care.

Republican Sen. Jon Husted said he and his wife were praying for Kaptur's "speedy and full recovery." He added that he hoped the person responsible for this reckless act would be apprehended quickly and held accountable.

Leaving the scene of a crash that hospitalized two people, including an 80-year-old sitting member of Congress, is a serious offense in Ohio whether or not anyone is ultimately charged. Fleeing removes the chance for police to test for impairment at the scene and makes accountability harder to establish. Whether charges eventually get filed will depend on what investigators find, and none have been filed as of Sunday evening.

Who Kaptur Is

Kaptur has represented Ohio's 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Toledo and stretches along Lake Erie's southern shore, since 1983. That's 43 years in the House, according to the Guardian, making her the longest-serving woman in the chamber's history and in Congress overall, according to House records cited by CBS News.

Before politics, she worked in urban planning and advised the Carter administration. She's seeking re-election this fall against Derek Merrin, a Republican and former Ohio state legislator.

What's Still Unknown

Neither Toledo police nor Kaptur's office has released the identity of the other driver, a description of the second vehicle involved in the pickup, or any indication of what caused the crash. Reuters reported that Toledo police did not respond to its request for comment, though the department did brief local news outlets on basic details of the crash.

Toledo police say the investigation is in its early stages. Whether the driver who fled is identified, and whether that person faces charges under Ohio's hit-skip statute, remains an open question. Kaptur's office said she looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon, but no timeline for her return to Washington has been given.