Larsen press secretary struck by bus, seriously hurt

Amanda Mahnke, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, was struck by a bus and seriously injured Thursday morning.

Mahnke, 30, was jogging near her Washington D.C,. apartment when she was hit at 8:31 a.m. while in a crosswalk, according to information from the congressman's office and The Washington Post.

Here's a detailed story from Thursday's Post.

“Amanda is more than a co-worker or employee; she is a great friend and confidant to many,” Larsen said in a prepared statement. “As her friends, we know the best thing we can do for her and her family is to keep her in our thoughts and prayers.”

"We also know we need to respect her privacy and that of her family at this time and stand ready to support them in any way we can,” he said

Before joining Larsen, Mahnke worked as a communications person for Sen. Maria Cantwell during her 2006 re-election campaign.