Image released of vehicle involved in hit-and-run that killed central Minnesota doctor

The State Patrol has an idea of what type of vehicle hit and killed a small-town doctor two weeks ago as she walked her dogs near her central Minnesota home. Now the agency is turning to the public for help finding the driver.

The hit-and-run crash occurred about 4:50 p.m. Nov. 13 on Hwy. 169 about halfway between Vineland and Onamia near the southern shore of Lake Mille Lacs.

Cathy Ann Donovan, 56, and her dogs were walking along the highway near her home when she was struck by a northbound driver, the patrol said. She died at the scene.

One of her dogs did not survive the crash; the other was not hurt, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office said.

The patrol released on social media a fuzzy image of the vehicle it is looking for and described it as darker in color, either blue or metallic gray, with full-width taillights.

"If you were in the area at the time of the crash, investigators would like to talk to you to see if you have information that may help," read a statement from the patrol. "They also ask you to call if you know anyone who was traveling in that area during that time and now has damage to their vehicle."

The patrol said its contact on the case is Sgt. Jason Brown, who can be reached at 218-316-3026.

Donovan was a doctor for the past 27 years with Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, a hospital spokeswoman said. She served as vice chief of staff for the health system and as medical director of its clinics.