DeSantis in car accident while campaigning in Tennessee

Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was involved in a multi-car accident on Tuesday while on his campaign trail in Tennessee, according to his spokesperson. 

"This morning, the governor was in a car accident while traveling to an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee," Press Secretary Bryan Griffin said in a statement. "He and his team are uninjured.”

"We appreciate the prayers and well wishes of the nation for his continued protection while on the campaign trail," Griffin added.

The governor was traveling on Interstate 75 at around 8:15 a.m. when the vehicle leading DeSantis’ four-car motorcade slowed down, causing the car that was following to hit it and creating a pile-up behind it, according to a Chattanooga Police Department spokesperson. 

"The motorcade came up on slow traffic and the lead vehicle had to brake quickly, which caused a rear-end collision involving the other vehicles," a police spokesperson said in a statement.

All of the cars involved in the accident were government vehicles transporting the governor and his team to the fundraising event. 

DeSantis, 44, was unharmed in the accident and continued to the event campaign, which was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., the spokesperson added. 

A female staff member traveling in the motorcade suffered minor injuries, which were promptly treated at the scene by medical personnel, police said.

DeSantis’ representatives did not give more details about the accident. It is unclear how many staff members were traveling in the vehicle.