A Minnesota State Senator is hospitalized after a weekend snowmobile accident.
The Douglass County Sheriff's Office says Republican Torrey Westrom of Alexandria was a passenger on the snowmobile on Sunday when the 13-year-old driver hit a snowdrift, causing the senator to fall off.
They were riding the machine on Lake Ida, near Alexandria.
Officials say Westrom was complaining of upper body pain when emergency crews arrived.
Here is a statement about the incident from the Senate Republican Caucus:
Earlier today, Sen. Torrey Westrom was a passenger on a snowmobile driven by a family member when it struck an ice chunk left from a fish house and caused Westrom to fall off the snowmobile. He was checked out by first responders and brought to the hospital where he remains for observation. The driver, who had received his Youth Snowmobile Safety certification, was not injured. Sen. Westrom sends his thanks to the first responders for their care and fast response.
The Republican represents Minnesota’s 12th Senate District, which includes all or parts of Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties.
In 1996, when Westrom won a seat in the state House of Representatives, be became the first known blind person to be elected to the Minnesota legislature.
Westrum lost his eyesight in a car crash in 1987 at the age of 14.
