The following story published in the Sheboygan press shows the tragic nature of sleep apnea. The patient had classic symptoms all co morbidities were present. It would be interesting to know what the patient’s rate of compliance was or if he was in fact treated at the time of the accident.
A 67-year-old Sheboygan man who struck and killed a bicyclist with his vehicle on June 6 in the Town of Mosel may have fallen asleep moments before the crash, according to a new report from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office.
The car’s driver, Roger V. Peterson, told sheriff’s deputies afterward that he thinks he’d fallen asleep, as he remembered opening his eyes and a bicyclist was in front of his car — so close, he said, that he never had time to brake.
The crash, which occurred early in the evening on county Highway Y near Rowe Road, killed 48-year-old Troy Tousey, a married father of two children, small business owner and a leader in Sheboygan’s charter school movement.
Peterson, who’s diagnosed with sleep apnea, diabetes and various heart ailments, estimated he was traveling at 55 mph when the crash occurred. Afterward, the report said he complained of a blood sugar problem to first responders.
According to the report, Peterson’s vehicle approached a group of three bicyclists from behind, striking Tousey. The vehicle’s passenger side mirror then grazed the other riders’ legs and was torn off.
The sheriff’s office had previously declined to release information on the factors contributing to the fatal crash until investigators finalized their report.
The report has since been forwarded to Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco, who will consider whether or not to pursue criminal charges against Peterson.
A separate crash reconstruction report is still pending from the Wisconsin State Patrol.
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