Rep. Marcy Kaptur said she and members of her congressional staff are recovering well after being involved in a car accident earlier this month in Toledo, Ohio.
In a video posted on X, the Ohio Democrat thanked supporters for their well wishes, saying the encouragement had contributed to what she described as her “very rapid recovery.”
“As I move to physical rehabilitation, sharing a message with the thousands who shared good wishes from our community, across our region, our country, and around the world,” Kaptur, 80, wrote on X and shared the video.
“It’s made a huge difference in my very rapid recovery. Each of you continue to uplift my spirit as we move forward. Thank you!” the longest-serving woman in U.S. House history added.
Kaptur, who has served in the House since 1983, and congressional staff member Keegan Zimmerman were traveling to a church service when their vehicle was struck in what Toledo police described as a “hit-skip” crash near the intersection of Detroit and Central avenues.
Under Ohio law, a “hit-skip” refers to a crash in which a driver leaves the scene without stopping as required by law.
“Dear friends, first of all, thank you so very, very much for the thousands of good wishes that are coming from our community, across our region, our state, our country, and even around the world,” Kaptur says in the video
She is seated in what seems to be a wheelchair in front of an office window.
“Really, it’s made a huge difference in my very rapid recovery,” she continued in the video.
“I want to thank all of you on behalf of myself, my beautiful staff, including Keegan Zimmerman who was with me on that fateful day on Sunday a week ago,” the congresswoman says.
“He also is in good shape. And I’m working my way back and am so grateful for all of the help that has been given to me in this effort,” she added.
Currently, the House is in its August recess, so Kaptur will have additional time to recover before the chamber is gavelled back into session in September.
“We will not return to Washington until next month, so I’m blessed to have time to recover fully, and I want to thank the first responders, the fire and rescue squads, the police, and all of the medical personnel that served us at such a fateful moment,” she added.
Kaptur is seeking another term in November in a rematch against former Ohio state Rep. Derek Merrin after narrowly defeating him in the 2024 election.
The race is expected to be one of the more closely watched congressional contests in Ohio.
In 2024, Kaptur won by a margin slightly above the threshold that would have triggered an automatic recount under Ohio law.
A Libertarian candidate received approximately 4% of the vote.
Following the recent traffic accident, Kaptur’s office said she sustained non-life-threatening injuries and remained conscious, alert, and active after the collision.
She continues to recover while maintaining her campaign schedule.
Kaptur concluded the video by displaying a handmade get-well card she received from a child.
The card featured a drawing of a brown dog named Charlie, whom the congresswoman jokingly described as “half-human.”
“We’ve heard from many people of many ages, and I received this card from a young gentleman named Avery,” she said.
“Isn’t this sweet? That’s his dog, Charlie. And he and I happen to be friends. And he was worried about me. So he did this card for me,” said Kaptur.
“And I’ll just read it for you: It says, ‘Get well soon’ – with Charlie, with hearts, because I really love this dog, Charlie,” the congresswoman said.
“He’s half-human. And signed Melanie, Adam, Eli, and Avery,” she continued.
“These are wonderful people, and they uplift your spirits, and each of you uplift my spirit as we move forward.”
