Rep. Larsen’s press secretary hit by bus

Amanda Mahnke, press secretary to Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), was critically injured Thursday morning when she was struck by a Metrobus at the intersection of Florida and Connecticut avenues in Northwest Washington.

Mahnke, 30, was jogging at about 8:30 a.m. when the bus hit her. She was taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital as a Priority One, which means that her injuries were life-threatening. As of Thursday night Mahnke is still hospitalized, though a hospital spokeswoman declined to inform reporters of her condition.

The bus was not in service at the time of the incident, and a Metro spokesperson confirmed that the driver was placed on paid leave pending the investigation and the results of a drug and alcohol screening, which is standard practice in the event of an accident.