MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Buley was involved in a fatal car crash Friday that killed a 27-year-old Pennsylvania mother and her 5-year-old daughter, police said Monday.
Ashland Police Chief Bill Hagstrom told the Ashland Daily Press on Monday that Bewley was not injured in the crash and the State Patrol was reconstructing the crash. No charges have yet been filed as the case is ongoing.
“We’re going to sit down with them and go over everything to determine how it all actually happened,” Hagstrom told the paper. “Then we will send everything to the district attorney for review because this was a fatal accident.”
Bewley, 70, is from Mason and represents northwest Wisconsin. The accident occurred when she exited the Lake Superior Beach Entrance and ran into the path of a car driven by Alyssa Ortman, according to the Ashland Police Department. When Ortman’s car collided with Bewley’s, it spun across Highway 2 and was struck by another vehicle.
Ortman’s 5-year-old daughter was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Ortman was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died, according to police. Hagstrom said Bewley was not taken to the hospital.
“This is a heartbreaking event for the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals involved, their families and their loved ones,” Bewley’s office said in a statement Monday. “Senator Buley, who was not seriously injured in the incident, would like to thank all the dedicated law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who assisted following the incident.”
Bewley, who has been a member of the Senate since 2015, is not seeking re-election.
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