MINNETONKA, Minn — A student-athlete from Hopkins High School who suffered severe injuries when her vehicle was struck by a speeding, unlicensed driver is out of the hospital and finishing her recovery at home.
The news came in a short, to-the-point post on Lauren Olson's CaringBridge site last Sunday. Family friend Nicole Mitchell shared that the 17-year-old had been released from a Gillette Children's rehab facility on Friday, April 19. "She will continue to outpatient rehab for a while, but she is doing really well. They are all so happy to have her home and she is excited to be there as well," wrote Mitchell, who has been writing the posts for the Olson family during Lauren's recovery.
Lauren's dad Al Olson foreshadowed the release a week earlier, when he blogged about her steady progress and the decision by doctors to give Lauren "day passes" so she could reintegrate to her normal life. "Having her at home filled the house with energy, love and a feeling of something…. Normal!" Olson wrote. "She has been walking around with only the aid of a single crutch... slowly going up and down flights of stairs."
Olson, a hockey and lacrosse player for Hopkins High School, was traveling westbound on Highway 7 and taking a left hand turn onto Willison Road when her vehicle was struck by an SUV driven by a 29-year-old Minneapolis man. She suffered a significant head injury which required being placed in an induced coma, a broken femur, a broken shoulder/clavicle and internal bleeding. Lauren has undergone multiple surgeries during the long process of recovering.
A search warrant filed in the case indicates that the driver was speeding, passing people on the right shoulder, and ran a red light before hitting Olson, who had the right of way. The search warrant affidavit also says that the driver does not have a valid license or insurance. Troopers took a blood sample because of suspicion he was under the influence of drugs.
That 29-year-old's criminal history reveals a deeply troublesome driving record that includes:
- 7 convictions for driving after suspension
- 2 convictions for failing to drive with due care
- 3 instruction permit violations
- Additional convictions for careless driving and inattentive driving
- Pending cases for driving with a revoked license and another failure to drive with due care.
KARE 11 contacted the State Patrol, who said the criminal case is ongoing, with investigators waiting on completion of accident reconstruction reports before a charging decision is made.
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