Former Minnesota Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb, who was fired from his job more than a year ago after having an affair with an elected official, was critically injured late Wednesday in a one-car crash on Interstate 35E in Mendota Heights, authorities said Thursday.
The State Patrol said alcohol use by Brodkorb, 39, of Eagan, was detected at the scene, and he was not wearing a seat belt.
According to the patrol, Brodkorb was heading north alone on 35E at about 9:15 p.m. when he hit a concrete wall at Hwy. 13, spun out and crossed all three lanes before his 2004 Subaru Forester came to rest against the concrete median.
Brodkorb was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul and last reported to be in critical condition.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the hospital said that Brodkorb's family is asking the news media to "respect their privacy during this time," and that Regions had no further information to release.
Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske said Thursday that Brodkorb's "injuries were severe but non-life threatening" as of Wednesday night.
Roeske said "a trooper detected alcohol on his [Brodkorb's] breath" at the crash scene.
David Baker, of Minneapolis, said he was driving north on that stretch of 35E at the time and heard "some sort of crashing or scraping noise" that prompted him to look in his rearview mirror.
