(TEXAS TRIBUNE) Two staffers for U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway and one from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were sent to a hospital near El Campo on Thursday after a major car wreck that interrupted a government tour of hurricane damage to agricultural production.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who was in the final car in the caravan, was unhurt, as were USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue; Conaway, R-Midland; and other staffers on the trip.
"We were very lucky," Miller said.
The politicians were touring the Houston area to inspect agricultural damage wrought by Hurricane Harvey. The officials had just heard from local agricultural producers and were headed to a press event, which has since been canceled.
Texas Tribune photographer Bob Daemmrich, who witnessed the accident, said an SUV-type vehicle carrying support staff — the third vehicle in the motorcade — pulled onto the frontage road of Highway 59 in El Campo and collided with a semi truck. Daemmrich said the truck careened across the median carrying the SUV with it, and both ended up on the opposite side of the highway.
Daemmrich said there were four people in the SUV. Miller said the staffers taken to the hospital were conscious and talking when they left the scene. All three are in stable condition, Conaway's office said.
