Congressman's wife hurt in crash

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DANVERS, Mass., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The wife of U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., was treated and released after her car was rear-ended.

Patrice Tierney was driving a Volkswagen Beetle that sustained severe damage when it was hit by a sport utility vehicle in Danvers Tuesday morning, the Boston Herald reported. She left the emergency room at Beverly Hospital with her husband a few hours later.

"She and Congressman Tierney thank all who expressed their concern during the last few hours and appreciate the continued thoughts and prayers from friends, family and supporters," a spokesman said. "We are reviewing the congressman's schedule for the next couple of days and will adjust it accordingly so that he can care for his wife."

Mrs. Tierney pleaded guilty in 2010 to helping her brother conceal gambling income by filing false tax returns. She acknowledged being "wilfully blind" to the source of the income.

Tierney was first elected to Congress in 1996. While he has denied knowing anything about his brother-in-law's activities, his Republican challenger, Richard Tisei, is believed to have a good shot at unseating him.