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Conn. brain injury patient nabs van, crashes, dies

Woman struck several cars, nearly hit emergency workers as she drove through another accident scene and hit a tree

Associated Press

WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut authorities and relatives say a woman with a brain injury stole a van from her rehabilitation facility, smashed into cars as she led police on a chase and crashed into a tree, killing herself.

Deborah Dorsey says her 31-year-old daughter, Asilin, was admitted July 12 to Gaylord Hospital after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.

On Saturday, Asilin Dorsey took a minivan from the hospital’s Wallingford campus and fled on Route 15. Police say she struck several cars, nearly hit emergency workers as she drove through another accident scene and hit a tree.

Deborah Dorsey says her daughter had trouble walking and suffered memory loss and wants to know how she got the van’s keys.

A hospital spokeswoman says it’s unclear why Dorsey left the hospital. Police are investigating.