Wisconsin Senator Had Cataract Surgery the Day Before Fatal Crash: Report

[milestogo]

A 70-year-old Wisconsin state senator drove her vehicle into the path of an oncoming vehicle on Friday, killing its occupants—a Pennsylvania mother and her young daughter, according to Ashland authorities. State Sen. Janet Bewley pulled out of the entrance to a Lake Superior beach around midday, police said, colliding with the car driven by 27-year-old Alyssa Ortman. The younger woman’s vehicle spun across the highway, hitting a third car. Ortman’s 5-year-old daughter was pronounced dead at the scene. Ortman was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died of her injuries.

Bewley, a Democrat who has served as the state Senate’s minority leader since 2020, was “not seriously injured” in the crash, her office said in a statement released Monday morning. Her involvement in the incident was first reported by KBJR-TV. “This is a heartbreaking event for the community,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are focused on the individuals involved, their families and their loved ones.”

In a prearranged Friday afternoon interview with a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel intern, Bewley said she had undergone cataract eye surgery on Thursday. She fell silent a few minutes later, pausing abruptly in the middle of a sentence. The intern asked if she was OK, the newspaper reported. “Yeah, I’m OK,” she replied. “This is not a good accident.”

When The Daily Beast emailed a request for comment on the Journal Sentinel’s report to Bewley’s office, her spokesperson sent back the original Monday morning statement. “A police investigation is ongoing,” it said. “Out of respect for that investigation and the privacy of all the families involved, our office will be withholding further comment at this time.”

The statement did not address the newspaper’s claims, which were published hours later. Bill Hagstrom, the chief of the city’s police department, told the Ashland Daily Press that no charges had yet been filed against anyone involved in the incident. “There’s nothing suspected as far as alcohol or foul play or anything,” he said. Bewley, who was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 2014, announced in February that she would not seek re-election, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/wisconsin-senate-minority-leader-janet-bewley-had-cataract-surgery-the-day-before-fatal-crash-report-says

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Legally as far as negligence

the question seems to me is whether she complied with post-operation recommendations as far as driving. Usually it's 24 hours for anaesthesia. Don't know about cataract surgery recommendations.

And what a tragedy and horrible outcome killing two young people. Almost merciful the mother also died. She would have been heartbroken to learn of her daughter.

[Deep State Witch]

2. Whaaaat?

When my husband had cataract surgery back in February, he wasn't allowed to drive for at least four days, if not more. Certainly NOT the day after surgery!

[ewagner]

3. I've always admired Sen Bewley..

but there are questions here that need to be answered.

[sybylla]

5. It's so sad for everyone.

She does have questions to answer. Also, perhaps, the people who did the surgery if they did not provide clear instructions for post-surgery activities like driving.

And, goodness, if I was going to violate doctors orders, it would not be to go down onto that stretch of road in Ashland during the busiest time of day in tourist season. Yikes.

I've only been in a room with her once, so I don't know her well.

[milestogo]

6. Anyone can make a mistake.

But as drivers get older there are more mistakes. Nobody wants to be told that they have to stop driving. Many older drivers self-limit, especially with night driving.

It sounds like the recovery recommendations vary by doctor, but most of what I have read says to at least wait till after the post-op checkup. If that's the next day, maybe its permissible. But even if it was permitted in this case, it may have allowed her to make a terrible mistake.

That's a hell of a mistake to have to live with for the rest of your life.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I was not allowed to drive for a week after mine.