By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-08-03 17:31:46 | Updated at 2026-08-03 23:06:00
5 hours ago
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) speaks at a press conference in Washington on July 20, 2021. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) was hospitalized Sunday morning after the vehicle she was riding in was struck in a hit-and-run crash that also injured her driver.
The 80-year-old congresswoman was on her way to a church service when the crash occurred, her office said in an Aug. 2 statement, adding that she is “active, alert, and being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.”
A spokesman for the Toledo Police Department told The Epoch Times by email that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The department shared a police report stating that the driver fled the scene and that both vehicles involved were impounded, while evidence is being gathered and processed.
Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle told The Epoch Times by email that he spoke with Kaptur and that “we’re glad to hear she’s doing well.”
He said that his department is “committed to identifying the person responsible and ensuring they are held accountable.”
“Congresswoman Kaptur is thankful for the quick actions of first responders from Toledo Police and Fire Departments who arrived promptly on scene, and the medical professionals helping to take care of those involved in the crash,” Kaptur’s official X account said in an Aug. 2 post on X.
“She expressed her deep gratitude to the hundreds of constituents who have reached out and looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon,” it added.
Kaptur, who has been in the House of Representatives for 43 years, is the longest-serving female lawmaker in the history of the chamber, according to House records.
She is seeking reelection in the fall against Derek Merrin, a Republican former member of the Ohio legislature.
The race is of national significance because Republicans narrowly control the House of Representatives; gaining a coveted Democrat-held seat could improve the GOP’s ability to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Kaptur’s 9th Congressional District, which hugs the Lake Erie shoreline and traverses farmland as well as the Toledo metro area, was recently reconfigured in Republicans’ favor.
Republican voters in the district picked Merrin, who narrowly lost to Kaptur in 2024, from a field of five hopefuls. Among them was current Ohio Rep. Josh Williams, the first black Republican elected to the House of Representatives in 50 years.
Kaptur has served in Congress for 22 terms since 1983. The congresswoman’s website describes her as a “fighter for working people.”
Merrin served eight years in the Ohio legislature, where he led the Ohio House Republican Caucus. He led efforts to cut the state’s income tax, reduce regulations, and expand school choice, among other accomplishments, his website says.
“Now, I’m ready to take the fight to Washington—defending our constitutional rights, demanding fiscal responsibility, and bolstering Northwest Ohio’s economy,” said Merrin, as quoted on his website.
Janice Hisle contributed to this report.
