PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Minnesota woman was seriously injured during the Bill Bone Olympic Triathlon on Sunday in Palm Beach County, prompting her family to hire a law firm for an investigation.
Ashleigh Whitton, 45, of Eden Prairie, was struck while competing in the cycling segment when a 74-year-old driver turned onto the closed race course, colliding with her and another cyclist, authorities confirmed.
Whitton is currently out of a coma but remains paralyzed from the neck down and is receiving medical care at a local hospital.
Family members reported that Whitton can communicate by blinking but does not recall the incident. Her husband, Patrick Whitton, emphasized her strength and resilience, stating, “We know she will fight hard to recover… her family and I will be by her side every step of the way.”
Whitton's family is raising funds for her long-term care through a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $85,000 as of Thursday afternoon. They expressed frustration that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has yet to file charges against the driver involved.