Car crash kills Pennsylvania state senator

[nonconformist]

Source: CNN.com

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A longtime Pennsylvania state senator has died after his Cadillac collided head-on with a truck.

Legislative leaders say Sen. James Rhoades died Saturday. He and his wife, Mary, were taken to a hospital after the crash Friday.

Senate aides say Mary Rhoades' injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The accident is being investigated.

The 66-year-old Republican had served for seven terms and was chairman of the Education Committee. He was campaigning for an eighth term.

A Senate Republican spokesman says the party would have to get a court's permission to remove Rhoades' name from the ballot and replace him.

He started in the Senate in 1981 and represents northeastern Pennsylvania's coal country.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/18/james.rhoades.ap/index.html

[Barack_America]

1. How sad. Praying for his wife and family. nt

[mth44sc]

2. I hope that wasn't

The Senate Republican spokesmans first concern.

My condolences to the family.

[BlueJazz]

3. "court's permission to remove Rhoades' name from the ballot and replace him"

I never have "Gotten" that Law...I mean, the Guy is dead...why does anyone have to go to court to
add a replacement?
What is the court going to do...say No?....You have to leave his name on the ballot!

Laws sometimes are strange...

[napi21]

6. I hate to sound uncaring, but is it even possible to replace his name

with only 2 1/2 weeks to go, and what about the absentee ballots that have already been sent out and probably returned already? What woulkd happen if this accident had happened the day after the election? Surely Pa. has some rules in place to cover things like that.

[BlueJazz]

10. Oh...I just wondered...

You would think that there would be a standing law that if somebody was running for office and they died, the Party would just replace them without spending time and money going through a "Big Deal"

Don't mean to sound uncaring either...I'm not.

[sandnsea]

16. A court order probably expedites it

You wouldn't want somebody with power in one county to hurry and print ballots with one name, when the replacement hadn't been thoroughly decided by the Party. I think going to court is the right way to avoid underhanded political maneuvers, and yes there would be somebody, somewhere, who would take advantage of a situation like this.

[brer cat]

4. I don't know anything about him,

but I have my sympathy with his family at this sudden loss.

[Hulk]

5. Sad, no matter what his political party.

[LynnTheDem]

7. My thoughts are with the Senator's wife & family.

I hope Mrs. Rhoades recovers.

[TommyO]

13. Sadly, there is no full recovery from losing a spouse like this

She might recover physically, but the emotional toll will always be with her.

My best to her and the rest of her family as they cope with this tragedy.

[LynnTheDem]

14. How unfortunate people didn't realize the same holds true for military spouses.

They never recover, especially when their loved ones are dead from a politician's pack of lies for political and financial gain.

[Zynx]

8. That's just awful. I feel for his family.

[wisteria]

9. I am sorry to hear this. My sympathies go out to his family. n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

11. My condolences to his family and his constituents.

And my prayers to his wife, for her recovery.

[scytherius]

12. So sad

As I get older (60+) I have lost so many. So sad.

[emilyg]

15. My condolences to his family.