Pickup driver lost consciousness and struck several cars in Delaware. Sen. Chris Coons was a passenger in one of them

Democratic Senator Chris Coons has been taken to hospital after a crash involving several cars in Delaware, according to The Daily Beast. The 62-year-old, who has represented Delaware in the Senate since 2010, was reportedly treated for minor injuries following the crash in Sussex County.

In a statement posted on X, Coons said that he had been a passenger in one of the cars involved in the crash, which he indicated was caused by a driver who experienced a medical emergency. 

“Earlier today, a Delaware driver experienced a medical incident and collided with several cars, including one in which I was a passenger,” he said. He added, “I was transported to Beebe Hospital and treated for minor injuries.”

Senator describes the moments around the crash and his recovery

Coons also stated that he had already been discharged from the hospital and said he was expecting to make a complete recovery. Medical emergencies behind the wheel have led to other crashes, including a case where a father dozed off with his children in the car.

Coons expressed his gratitude to the emergency services personnel who responded to the scene, as well as the staff at Beebe Hospital. “I’m feeling relieved and blessed that by all accounts no one was seriously injured during the crash,” he added.

The collision reportedly took place on Savannah Road in Lewes, Delaware, at around 10:20 a.m. on Sunday. Including Coons, six people were hospitalized with minor injuries as a result of the crash, per The Daily Beast. Other drivers have had narrow escapes too, such as two drivers who walked away before a crash.

In a statement to People, Lewes Police Chief Thomas Spell confirmed that several cars “were struck by a pickup truck whose driver had a suspected medical issue causing him to lose consciousness.” Spell also added, “There are no indications of impairment of the truck driver.”

Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride sent the senator well wishes in a post on X. “I am so glad to hear you are okay and that no one was seriously injured. Sending you and Annie all my love as you recover,” she wrote.

Coons was elected to the Senate in 2010 after spending about a decade working in county government. He is described in the report as a close ally of fellow Delaware Democrat and former President Joe Biden, and served as national co-chair of Biden’s re-election campaign in 2024.

Coons had previously described the then-81-year-old Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race as a “very difficult” one, but also one that “reflects the very best of who Joe Biden is.” Speaking to CBS News at that time, an emotional Coons described his friend as “someone who comes home, comes home because it’s where his strength is. His strength is in his family, his strength is in our community, his strength was in his faith.” He also said of Biden, “He is the greatest Delawarean in our history.”