Edina Man Questioned in Death of Mille Lacs Doctor Killed in Hit and run

A 42 year old Edina, Minnesota man was questioned by police in relation to the hit and run death of Dr. Cathy Ann Donovan. Doctor Donovan, a 56 year old local family physician, was walking her two dogs along Highway 169 North near the southern shore of Lake Mille Lacs the evening of November 13, 2023 when she was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton briefing press this morning, stated that Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators had seized a Tesla Model X SUV that belonged to the suspect and had obtained hair samples from the vehicle as well as other evidence. Video evidence also places a vehicle that matches the suspect’s SUV near the scene. Cellphone data and data from the Tesla’s computer has also been collected and is being analyzed.

Two eyewitnesses told investigators after the accident occurred that they had seen a vehicle matching the description of the Tesla driving with what appeared to be a person who had been struck still on the hood of the car. The suspect has reportedly admitted that he was driving in the area the night that the accident took place.

In December, Donovan’s family, along with the State Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office, announced a $10,000 reward, hoping it would help solve the case.

While further facts of this case will be coming out over time, attorneys at Pritzker Hageman who have investigated hit and run accidents with similarities to this one, have often identified distracted driving and impaired driving as contributing factors. Our Minneapolis based complex vehicle accident legal team handles wrongful death cases like this for families all over Minnesota and across the Midwest.