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The oldest sitting member of Congress was airlifted Saturday following a car accident in his native Texas, though the 91-year-old apparently took the flight in stride -- 'joking with paramedics' on his way to Plano, according to his office.
Rep. Ralph Hall was being driven by his friend, 73-year-old Howard Zielke, when someone turned into them and collided with their vehicle around 2:50 p.m. (3:50 p.m. ET) in Fannin County, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported.
The other car's driver didn't need to go to a hospital, while Zielke was transported to a hospital in McKinney, the state agency said. Hall, though, was flown to The Medical Center of Plano with what the public safety department described as 'serious injuries.'
Joy Dover, a hospital spokeswoman, said later Saturday that Hall was in stable condition.
The congressman's office provided more details. It described Zielke as one of Hall's 'close friends' and said he was 'not hurt.'
As to Hall himself, his office said he 'suffered a hip injury and minor cuts and bruises, but is expected to make a full recovery.'
The same statement noted that the congressman -- who'd arrived home from Washington on Friday -- was 'joking' with health staff on his medical flight.
The idea that Hall might find humor in an otherwise bad situation, perhaps, shouldn't be too surprising.
Shortly after losing a Republican primary this spring to tea party-backed candidate John Ratcliffe, thus spelling an end to his 32-year stay in Congress, Hall cracked: 'I figured it out -- damn guy got more votes than I did!'
He pointed out, too, that he couldn't get unemployment yet since he has 'a job here until December 31st.'
'At 91-years-old a contract for six months -- you can't beat it,' he said then, referring to the rest of his term in the House.
Entities 0 Name: Hall Count: 5 1 Name: Congress Count: 2 2 Name: Zielke Count: 2 3 Name: Plano Count: 2 4 Name: Fannin County Count: 1 5 Name: Republican Count: 1 6 Name: Washington Count: 1 7 Name: Texas Department of Public Safety Count: 1 8 Name: Howard Zielke Count: 1 9 Name: Ralph Hall Count: 1 10 Name: House Count: 1 11 Name: Texas Count: 1 12 Name: John Ratcliffe Count: 1 13 Name: McKinney Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1rX5lIA Title: Oldest Member of Congress, 91, in Car Crash Description: Rep. Ralph Hall, at 91 the oldest member of Congress, was involved in an automobile accident today when the car he was riding in collided with another vehicle, his spokesman said. The accident occurred on Highway 121 just south of Bonham when a car turned in front of Congressman Hall's vehicle...
