State Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma), who’s been considering a run for governor this fall, was not wearing a seat belt during a Racine County traffic crash December 8th, according to a State Patrol report, and did not receive a citation, despite state law requiring everyone in a moving vehicle to be belted.
Vinehout was doing paperwork in the back seat, on her way to scheduled events in Racine and Kenosha, when the car, driven by one of her campaign volunteers, swerved to avoid hitting others stopped along the interstate during heavy snowfall — a morning filled with traffic crashes. The vehicle then veered off into the ditch before going through a fence.
Vinehout suffered a broken arm that later required eight hours of reconstructive surgery. She’s started physical therapy, but won’t attend next week’s scheduled Senate floor session, according to her husband, Douglas Kane, who also says there’s no announcement soon on her political plans.
Tom Karkow, WRJN