ALEXANDRIA — State Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Alexandria, was injured in a snowmobile crash on Lake Ida, north of Alexandria Sunday afternoon, March 12.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at about 3 p.m. from Trista Stamness, who reported a single vehicle snowmobile accident on the north end of Lake Ida.
Deputies and first responders arrived to the scene and found Westrom about 200 yards from the shoreline.
A 13-year-old male was operating a 2009 Arctic Cat two-up snowmobile, which is designed to safely accommodate two passengers. Westrom, 49, was a passenger, according to the sheriff's office. Westrom's media relations director later issued a statement noting that the the 13-year-old was a family member who had received his youth snowmobile safety certification.
The snowmobile struck a packed snowdrift on the lake, causing Westrom to be thrown clear of the snowmobile, according to the sheriff's office. Westrom's statement said the drift included an ice chunk left behind from a fish house.
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Westrom was complaining of upper body pain at the scene. The juvenile, whose name was not released, wasn't injured.
North Ambulance and Leaf Valley First Responders tended to Westrom on the lake. Westrom was transported by snowmobile rescue sled to a nearby public access and transported to Alomere Hospital by North Ambulance.
In his statement, Westrom thanked the first responders for their care and fast response.
Westrom was elected to the Senate in 2012, after serving eight terms in the House. He is the first known blind person to be elected to the Minnesota Legislature.
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