Sen. Brown in car accident, but unharmed

WASHINGTON--Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and one of his Senate staffers were in a car accident on Thursday — caused by another driver who ran a stop sign, according to Brown’s office.

The Ohio Democrat and his aide, Will Young, were taken to the hospital and released Thursday evening after being treated for minor injuries.

“Yesterday around 4 p.m. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and a staff member were involved in an auto accident in Parma, Ohio, after a driver in another vehicle ran a stop sign and hit them,” Brown’s office said in a statement. “Both the staff member and Sen. Brown were taken by ambulance to University Hospitals Parma Medical Center and treated for minor injuries. Both were released yesterday evening and are doing fine.”

Brown was on his way home to Cleveland after spending the day in Columbus. He and his aide had had just picked up his dog, Franklin, who was not hurt in the crash.

In a statement, Brown used the accident to tout his Ohio-made car — a Jeep Cherokee built in Toledo — and federal safety regulations.

“We … are happy to report we are both doing just fine — thanks in large part to my well-made Jeep Cherokee and government regulations that help keep us all safe on the road by requiring airbags,” Brown said. "While I wish this could have happened on a test track rather than to us, I can tell you without a doubt that my Jeep Cherokee, made with American steel by union workers in Toledo, made all the difference in allowing us to walk away from this crash, a little stiff, but unharmed.”

The senator's office said the other driver was apparently not hurt in the accident.

"We believe the driver of the other vehicle is also unharmed and have inquired with the Parma Police Department to make sure. Out of respect for that driver’s privacy, we will not release additional details," the statement reads.