Ron DeSantis unhurt after car accident in Tennessee

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is unhurt after he was involved in a multi-car accident while en route to a campaign event in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson said.

“We appreciate the prayers and well wishes of the nation for his continued protection while on the campaign trail,” spokesperson Bryan Griffin said in a statement.

As he aims to make up ground in the Republican presidential primary, DeSantis had plans to hold three fundraisers around Tennessee on Tuesday. One of them was scheduled in Chattanooga at 8:30 a.m.

The chain reaction crash happened before 8:15 a.m. when traffic slowed on Interstate 75 in Chattanooga, causing four cars in the motorcade to hit one another, police said. All the vehicles involved in the crash were government vehicles taking DeSantis and his team to his scheduled event, police said.

The Republican White House hopeful was not hurt, according to Chattanooga police, Florida law enforcement protecting the governor and Griffin. DeSantis continued on to the campaign event. A female staff member who suffered a minor injury in the crash was treated at the event, police said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.