Olsen released from hospital

by Mike Fitzgerald

Sublette County State Representative Monte Olsen was released from the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center last weekend. The 50-year-old Olsen is still recovering from multiple injuries after being struck by an SUV driven by his wife, 39-year-old Lisa Glenn, also of Daniel, on April 30.

“It was nice to get out,” Olsen said Tuesday evening. “The prognosis is very good and I’m excited about it.” Olsen said he still has his jaw wired shut and has sutures on his face. He said he had 10 broken ribs, four with multiple fractures, and a collapsed right lung. Glenn, a Pinedale optometrist, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. She was released on a signature bond and pleaded not guilty on May 4. A pretrial hearing has been set for Aug. 16.

Olsen said he couldn’t comment on specifics of the incident, but did say that the Sublette County Sheriff’s Department did not come to the scene for a domestic situation at the home on Highway 354 in Daniel, as widely reported. “They were never called for a domestic dispute,” he said Tuesday. “They did respond to my being injured.” Olsen was flown to the Idaho hospital and was originally listed in critical condition. He spent 11 days in intensive care. Olsen said he would have outpatient surgery on May 25.

“I will probably be stronger than I was before with all the physical therapy,” he said. The Cheyenne native and longtime Sublette County resident said he has resumed some of his state representative roles since being released and plans to be able to attend committee meetings next month. “I’ve been handling some of my correspondence and reading,” he said.

Olsen, an avid skier and instructor, said he was humbled by all of the support. “I’m sorry this tragedy happened, but it does make you feel good to have so many thoughts and prayers, not only from my district but around the state,” he said. “I want to say thank you to everyone.”